UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OP THE INTERKT J. A. Krug, Secretary GEOl-OGICAL SURVEY , W. & Wrather, Director
Water-Supply Paper 1046
TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940
BY . ' *" SETH D. BREEDING
»ntt
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 1948
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. CONTENTS
Page Abstract ____ -___ -. 1 Introduction ______. 2 Administration and personnel______3 Acknowledgments __ __ 4 Measurement of flood discharges... ______4 June-July floods in south-central Texas ______5 Rainfall.-______.. ______8 Flood stages and discharges 15 Summary of flood stages and discharges 18 Stages and discharges at stream-gaging stations______18 Brazos River Basin,______27 Brazos River at Waco_ , ______27 Brazos River near Marlin______. 29 Brazos River near Bryan______30 Brazos River near Hempstead ______32 Brazos River near San Felipe______33 Brazos River at Richmond- ____ _-______35 Brazos River at East Columbia,______36 Little River at Cameron_ ___ 37 Yegua Creek near Somerville, _-______39 Navasota River near Easterly ______40 Colorado River Basin.______41 Colorado River at Austin ____ 41 Colorado River at Smithville ______43 Colorado River at La Grange.. ______44 Colorado River at Columbus_ _t ,.» ______46 Colorado River at Wha$to^_ __, .._ I i- '-- -.,- .» T 48 Colorado River nea>^y'Cityl___i?i__«^.-ii-l'_._s_^ 49 Dry Creek^at Btle§chei[I^ak® niftr ^mijfchySBjiifeJi-.______50 _ 51 Edna_ _ _ 53 Navidad River near Ganado___ 54 Guadalupe River Basin______. 55 Guadalupe River above Comal Eiver, at New Braunfels____ 56 Guadalupe River at Victoria 57 San Marcos River at Ottine______58 Coleto Creek near Victoria. __ 60 San Antonio River at Goliad______61 CONTENTS HI
Page November floods in the San Jacinto River Basin _ 62 Meteorolbgie conditions.______* *- - 63. Rainfall______64 Stages and discharges at stream-gaging stations. * 69 San Jacinto River Basin_ - , 71 West Fork San Jacinto River near Conroe.*,. 71 West Fork San Jacinto River near Humble. * - 74 San Jacinto River near Huffman ______76 Sparing Creek near Spring-..- 1 ;, 78 Bast Fork San Jacinto River near Cleveland _ 80 Rainfall and runoff studies______82 Discussion of results__--l_-____-_-___--_---_------_____ 83 Sediment.-______- 87 Previous floods______.______' _ 88 Index.______91
ILLUSTKATIONS
Pact PLATE 1. Map of Texas showing major topographic divisions, major drain age basins, and average annual rainfall through 1939______6 2. Typical stream-gaging stations: A, Recording gage and silt trap on Colorado River at Austin; B, Recording gage and neas- uring cableway on Colorado River at Columbus____ _.. 6 3. Lavaca River at Hallettsville, flood of June 30, 1940: At View toward highway bridge from near left edge of overflow; B, View from left bank at railway crossing______14 4. Lavaca River at Hallettsville, flood of June 30, 1940: A, View near center of business district; B, View of channel looking downstream from highway bridge after flood receded ______15 5; Isohyetal map of south-central Texas showing total rainfall June 28 to July 1,1940, and location of rainfall stations .___ In pocket 6. Isohyetal map of south-central Texas showing total rainfall June 28 to July 4, 1940, and location of stream-measurement points___-______In pocket 7. A, Navidad River near Ganado at peak of flood of July 2,1940; B, San Jacinto River flood of November 27,1940, at highway crossing near Crosby______74 FIGURE 1. Graphs of cumulative rainfall, in inches, at Cheapside, Lexing- ton, andSomerville, June29-3®, 1940.______^ 9 2. Graphs of discharge at stream-gaging stations on upper B-azos River, June 25 to July 17, 1940 ______20 3. Graphs of discharge at stream-gaging stations on lower Brazos River, June 25 to July 17, 1940______21 1 4. Graphs of discharge at stream-gaging stations on tributaries of Brazos River, June 28 to July 10, 1940______22 5. Graphs of discharge at stream-gaging stations on Colorado River, June 28 to July 10, 1940______23 IV CONTENTS
Page FIGURE 6. Graph of discharge at stream-gaging station on Dry Creek at Buescher Lake, near Smithville, June 29 to July 1, 1940-___ 24 7. Graphs of discharge at stream-gaging stations in the Lavaca River Basin, June 28 to July 10, 1940__._-______25 8. Graphs of discharge at stream-gaging stations in the Guadalupe River Basin, June 28 to July 10, 1940-____-______-__--_- 26 9. Isohyetal map of San Jacinto River Basin, Tex., showing total rainfall, in inches, November 20-26, 1940, and locations of* stream-gaging stations-. ______64 10. Graphs of cumulative rainfall, in inches, at Montgomery and Shepherd, November 22-25, 1940____.______68 11. Graphs of discharge at various stream-gaging stations in t^e San Jacinto River Basin, November 24 to December 20, 1940_ _ _ _ _ 70 12. Graphs of discharge at various stream-gaging station in fie San Jacinto River Basin, November 24 to December 22, 1P40___ 71
TABLES
Page TABLE 1. Rainfall, in inches, June 28 to July 4, 1940______10 2. Summary of flood stages and discharges in south-central Texas for floods of June-July 1940__--___--______.____-__----_- 16 3. Rainfall, in inches, in San Jacinto River Basin and adjacent areas, November 20-26,1940______-______-______--_---_- 66 4. Rainfall and direct runoff of storm of June 28 to July 4, 1940, for certain areas in the Colorado and Lavaca River Basins._____ 84 5. Rainfall and direct runoff of storm of November 20-26, 1P40, in San Jacinto River Basin______----____ 86 6. Silt load and runoff at measurement stations on West Fork San Jacinto, Brazos, and Colorado Rivers during flood periods, 1940______- 88 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940
By SETH D. BREEDING
ABSTRACT Floods occurred'in T6xas during June, July, and November 1940, fcHt exceeded known stages on many small streams and at a few places on the larger streams. Stages at several stream-gaging stations exceeded the maximum known at those places since the collection of daily records began. A storm, haying its axis generally on a north-south line from Cameron to Vic toria and extending across the Brazos, Colorado, Lavaca, and Guadalupe River Basins, caused heavy rainfall over a large part of south-central Texas. The maximum recorded rain of 22.7 inches for the 2-day period June 29-30 occurred at Engle. Of this amount, 17.5 inches fell in the 12-hour period between 8 p. m. June 29, and 8 a. m. June 30. Light rains fell at a number of places on June 28, and additional light rains fell at many places within the area from July 1 to 4. During the period June 28 to July 4 more than 20 inches of rain fell over an area of 300 square miles, more than 15 inches over 1,920 square miles, ani more than 10 inches over 5,100 square miles. The average annual rainfall for the area experiencing the heaviest rainfall during this storm is about 35 inches. Farming is largely confined to the fertile flood plains in much of the area sub jected to the record-breaking floods in June and July. Therefore these floods, coming at the height of the growing season, caused severe losses to crops. Much damage was done also to highways and railways. The city of Hallettsville suffered the greatest damage of any urbar area. The Lavaca River at that place reached a stage 8 feet higher than ever known before, drowned several people, destroyed many homes, and submerged almost the entire business district. The maximum discharge there was 93,10C second-feet from a drainage area of, 101 square miles. Dry Creek near Sm thville produced a maximum discharge of 1,870 second- feet from an area of 1.48 square miles and a runoff of 11.3 inches in a 2-day period from a rainfall of 19.5 inches. The area in the Colorado River Basin between Smithville and La Grange, amounting to 550 square miles, had an average rainfall of 19.3 inctes, of which 11.5 inches appeared as runoff. The maximum discharge at La Grange was 182,000 second-feet, with much the greater part coming from below Smithville. This is probably a record-breaking flood for the area between Smithville and La Grange, but stages as much as 16 feet higher have occurred at La Grange. Heavy rainfall over the east half of Texas November 21-26 caused lafge floods in all streams in Texas east of the Guadalupe Riiver. The maximum recorded rainfall for the 2-day period November 24-25 was 20.46 inches at Hempstead, of which 16.00 inches fell in 24 hours or less. The storm occurred during the period November 20-26, with the greater part of the rain falling November 23-25. During the period November 20-26, rainfall in Texas amounted to more than 15 inches over an area of 3,380 square miles, and "to more than 10 inches oveof an eetea, of 17,570 square miles. The average annual rainfall for the area in Texas experiencing more than 10 inches of rain during,this storm ranges from 2 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940
SOjinches on the east border of the State to 35 inches near the west edge of the area. The study of this storm for the purposes of this report is United to the San Jacinto River Basin, which had an average rainfall of 13.6 ir
INTRODUCTION The floods of June-July 1940 were the direct result of excessive rainfall produced by a storm that centered over Bastrop, Fayette, Lee, Lavaca, and De Witt Counties, in south-central Texas, and extended across the Brazos, Colorado, Lavaca, and Guadalupe River Basins. Stages higher than any previously known were reached on many of the smaller streams near the center of the storm area, and on all streams in the upper part of the Lavaca River Basin. This storm covered an area that is largely agricultural and, coming as it did in the height of the growing season, the losses to crops were severe. The floods did great damage to highways, railways, residential property, and espe cially to Hallettsville, where almost the entire business d;<*trict was inundated and many homes were washed away. , The floods in November 1940 were caused by a widespread storm that covered the eastern two-thirds of Texas and all of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana and produced its heaviest rainfall over a large section of southeastern Texas. This storm was one of the largest in history, if not the largest, with respect to the total quantity of rain falling on the State of Texas within a period of 7 days. All streams in Texas from Sabine River on the east boundary westward ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL ' 3 to Guadalupe River were in flood except tjj.e :!iipper i$ortiqns
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The stream-gaging work of the Geological Survey in Texas is per formed in cooperation with the State Board of Water Engineers, consisting of C. S. Clark, chairman, A. H. Dunlap, and J. W. Pritchett. Acknowledgment is made to the United States Weather F \ireau for many of the data on rainfall and the discussion of weather conditions during the storm periods, and to the Corps of Engineer?, United States Army, for many of the supplemental data on rainfall and aid in obtaining stream-flow data in the field. Some miscellaneous rainfall records were obtained from local ob servers, and other information was obtained from other sources. So far as practicable, acknowledgments for these contributions are given at appropriate places in the report.
MEASUREMENT OF FLOOD DISCHARGES The general method employed in obtaining the discharge r,t stream- gaging stations consists in applying to records of stage the stage- discharge relation defined by means of current-meter measurements of discharge at various stages from low water to high water. The records of stage, unless otherwise noted, are obtained either from readings on nonrecording gages or from graphs of continuous water- stage recorders. Plate 2 shows typical stream-gaging stations in Texas, equipped with recording gages. The evaluation of flood discharge in many situations is verj difficult, and the accuracy often depends upon surveys, analyses, and compu tations by rather indirect methods for extending the curve of stage- discharge relation beyond the range covered by currant-meter measurements. At places other than regular stream-gaging stations, peak discharges are nearly always determined by some indirect method. It is usually impossible at such places to obtain sufficient basic information from which the total quantity ol water discharged during the flood may be computed. Maximum discharges of floods described in this report were obtained either by current-meter measurements at crest stages, from rating curves defined by current-meter measurements or extended above the JUNE-JULY FLOODS IN SOUTH-CENTI&AL TEXAS 5 portipn defined by current-meter measurements at lowe" stages, or from slope-area measurements for crest stages. These and other methods are outlined in standard textbooks and manuals on by* draulics * and have been discussed in previous reports of the Geological Survey. 2
JUNE-JULY FLOODS IN SOUTH-CENTRAL TEXAS Destructive floods occurred in the Brazos, Colorado, Lavaca, and Guadalupe River Basins in late June and early July 194C. Portions of 11 counties were inundated, 9 people were reported drowned, and property and crop losses have been estimated at more than $1,000,000. 3 The floods were caused by excessive rainfall, which WF^as greater. Especially heavy rain covered an area about 150 miles long by 50 miles wide, the long axis of the area extending along a north-south line from Cameron to Victoria. The line showing average annual rain fall of 35 inches almost coincides with this long axis of the area of heaviest rainfall. The area may be properly considered as in the i Corbett, D. M., and others, Stream-gaging procedure, a manual describing methods and practices of practices of the Geological Survey: U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 888,245 pp., 1943. King H. W., Handbook of hydraulics, 3d ed., McQraw-Hill Book Co., 1939. * JWttsoB, aeffister, The Mew ¥otk-State flood of July 1935: U. S. Oeol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 773-E, pp. 251-254, 1936. Dalrymple, Tate, and others, Major Texas floods of 1935: U. S. Oeol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 796-G, pp. 229-232,252-256,1939; Major Texas floods of 1936: U. S. Geol. Survey Water- Supply Paper 816, pp. 12-18, 1937. 8 Monthly Weather Rev., vol. 68, No. 7, pp. 198,199, July 1940. 6 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 upper Coastal Plain or in the transitional area, between th«. Coastal Plain and, the central plateau. Low rolling hills are found along the divides and near the headwaters of all the small streams. A uniform characteristic of the streams in the area other than the main rivers is the existence of very small cut channels and wide flood plains. The hydrologic and topographic features of the area are generally uniform except for considerable variation in the density of vegetation in the wooded areas and in the percentage of land in cultivation. The soil throughout the area may be classed as sandy loam but with considerable clay and gravel in some parts. As a background for further discussion of the floods, especially the flood at Hallettsville, the following description is quoted: 4 A slowly moving cold front attended by excessive rains crossed central and south Texas on June 29-30, and 8 to 22 inches of precipitation occurred over a strip of country 50 miles wide by 100 miles in length. It covered large sections of eight counties centered around Bastrop, Fayette, Lavaca, and De Witt. This record rainfall caused destructive floods along the lower portion of tt*» Colorado and Guadalupe Rivers, and along the upper portion of the Lavaca River and its creek tributaries. Two persons were drowned on the Colorado River and seven lives were lost on the Lavaca River. * * * Along the lower Colorado River, La Grange, Tex., had 12 inches of rainfall during a period of 29 hours; Smithville had 20.40 incites from the afternoon of June 29 to the morning of the 30th, with 16 inches of this amount falling between 7 p. m. and 10 a. m. a period of 15 hours. The river did not reach flood stage at Smithville, Tex., but rose to 10 to 12 feet above.flood stage from Columbus to Wharton, Tex. Along the Guadalupe River Basin, rainfall at San Marcos, Tex., measured 6.18 inches; Cuero, Tex., 14.40 inches, with 12.40 inches of this amount falling during the 24 hours ending at 7 a. m., June 30. * * * The river rose 10 feet above flood stage at Gonzales and 9.5 feet above flood stage at Victoria, Tex., with the crest passing Gonzales on July 1 and Victoria on the 3d. The upper watershed of the small Lavaca River was subjected to an excessive rainfall of unusual intensity *nd duration, and over parts of that section 22 inches of rainfall occurred within 36 hours, June 29-30. Hallettsville, Tex., approximately 20 miles below the headwaters of the Lavaca River, experienced the most costly flood in its history. It was here that seven persons we'-e drowned and property losses including crops and washed farming lands exceeded $740,000. Coming in the height of the growing season, and owing to the fact that much of the flood plain was in cultivation, the stonr resulted in severe crop losses. The greatest property damage was in the city of Hallettsville, where water reached the second story of tl ?< county courthouse and damaged the merchandise of almost every business in town. Seven lives were lost, and many residences were washed away. Lavaca River, which caused the damage at HaJlettsville, had the greatest flood ever known at this place, and reached a stage 8 feet higher than the previously highest known flood, which occurred
t Monthly Weather Kev,, vol. 68, No. 7, pp. 19&-199, July 1940. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER IO46 PLATE I 94° 106° .
Boundory of major drainage basins
-Lines of equal rainfall, in inches,
MAP OF TEXAS SHOWING MAJOR TOPOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS, MAJOR DRAINAGE BASINS. AND AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL THROUGH 1939 763365 0-48 (Face p. 6)
GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1046 PLATE 2
A, RECORDING GAGE AND SILT TRAP ON COLORADO RIVER AT AUSTIN, TEX. Photograph by A. D. Boone.
B, RECORDING GAGE AND MEASURING CABLEWAY ON COLORADO RIVER AT COLUMBUS, TEX. TYPICAL STREAM-GAGING STATIONS. JUNE-JULY FLOODS IN SOUTH-CENTRAL TEXAS 7
in 1936. Eeliable information concerning floods dates back to 1870. The flood at Hallettsville has been described by the Ganrdo Tribune for July 4, 1940, as follows: , HALLBTTSVIULE, July 1. The worst flood in its history struck Hallettsville Sunday morning, leaving behind destruction and death. Several people perished, and the property loss runs into several hundred thou sand dollars. On store stocks and fixtures alone, the loss is estimated at a hundred thousand dollars. The Lavaca River rose to 41 feet 10 feet above any previous record. Ordinarily crossable anywhere on foot, the little river became a mighty stream almost a mile wide. ' Never before did the flood water reach the stores on the square. This time they were flooded from 3 to 8 feet high. * * * A 4-inch rain came early Saturday. A downpour followed at night. Ten and a half inches of rain fell here, supplemented by a 16-inch rain in the Moidton section. This was more than the Lavaca River could carry. The first alarm was sounded shortly after 2 a. m., the second 2 hou^s later. But neither was taken seriously enough, for no one expected this calamity. About a hundred families had to flee their homes before the rising water. Every store and house from the river up to the highway had .to be evacuated. "Several houses were seen floating down the stream beyond the reach of anyone," reports Sheriff McElroy. "Cries could be heard in the darkness but nothing could be done. The water rose some 8 feet in the county jail, but the prisoners .were all safe on the upper floor." By 5 a. m., the river was flooding the square. It was then the threatened section awakened to its danger. And it was high time, the water rising rapidly. By 7 it was reaching the highway. And shortly afterward, the water stood from 6 to 10 feet on the square, spreading several feet deep over, the highway itself something believed impossible. But what was thought could not, di
Much cattle and poultry were destroyed along both the Navidad and the Lavaca Rivers, although the reports are indefinite. The flood rose so rapidly that many were caught unprepared. Several hundred head of cattle, besides hogs and poultry, must have been lost, according to estimates. * * * The Cuero Record of July 1, 1940, reports: Cuero appears to have borne the brunt of the flood in De Witt County. Damage, estimated at between $150,000 and $200,000 was checked in Cuero proper Monday as a result of the torrential downpour. A report by the United States Weather Bureau rainfall observer, showed a total of 12.40 inches of rain fell in Cuero between the hours of 6 p. m. Saturday and 8 a. m. Sunday. Ditches and storm sewers were unable to care for the heavy overflow which engulfed the business district within a comparatively short time. Rain fell throughout the night Saturday, but it was between the hours of 2 and 6 a. m. that the heaviest precipitation came. Water was rising slowly in the business section at 4 a. m. By 5:3T a score of business houses had been engulfed. * * * Hundreds of persons fled from the western section of the city as the water rose to a depth of around 6 feet in many portions of the residential section across the tracks. Two or three hundred persons were carried to safety by bor-t and were cared for Sunday night by the city, sandwiches and coffee being served at various refugee centers. Views of the flood at Hallettsville are shown in plates 3 and 4. RAINFALL Immediately after the storm an extensive search was made for infor mation regarding rainfall throughout the areas where it was unusually heavy. Many reliable records of the rainfall were found in addition to those from official gages. Many estimates were obtained and usually disregarded. In a number of places the catchment vessels overflowed, which, at least, gave a positive minimum to tbe amount of rain received. No recording rain gages were located in the areas of heaviest ram- fall. However; the gages at Cheapside, Lexington, and Somerville were not far from the center of the storm, and they recorded rains totaling from 9 to 12 inches for June 29-30. Cumulative rainfall recorded by these gages is shown graphically in figure 1. An indica tion of the intensity in the area of heaviest rainfall is given by the record from the Weather Bureau gage at Smithville, which showed 16 inches of ram between 7 p. m. June 29 and 10 a. m. June 30, and also by the record from an unofficial observer at Engle, who used a gage of the Weather Bureau type that showed 17.5 inches of rain between 8 p. m. June 29 and 8 a. m. June 30. The available records of rainfall for the storm period ar«. given hi table 1. This table contains the records for the Weather Bureau sta tions and all other reliable rain-gage and other measurements within the area covered by this report and within adjacent areas. JUNE-JULY FLOODS IN SOUTH-CENTRAL TEXAS 9
12 m. 3p.m. 6 9 . 12p.m. 3a.m. 6 9 12m.
FIGTTBE 1. Graphs of cumulative rainfall, in inches, at Cheapside, Lexington, and Somerville, June 29-30» 1940. TABLE 1. Rainfall, in inches, June 28 to July 4, 1&40 [Measured in the morning except as noted. 'Included In tbe next measurement]
June July Total July Total No. Lati Long June 28 June 28 tude itude to to pi. 5 28 29 30 1 Julyl 2 3 4 July 4
Neches River Basin: 0 / 1 31 39 95 05 2.08 0.21 2.29 (*) 0.73 0.05 3.07 2 DiaMlle'. . ._ _._..__._-.__.-...... - 31 52 95 15 0.21 1.22 0.29 .42 2.14 0.33 .10 2.57 Do. 3 31 16 95 05 .51 .20 .05 .76 1.06 1.82 Do. Trinity Eiver Basin: 4 30 46 95 56 1.02 .28 .51 1.81 .09 1.90 Do. 5 31 32 95 57 1.98 .08 1.62 3.68 .13 .25 .17 4.23 Do. 6 31 15 95 58 2.27 .28 3.50 6.05 .15 .25 .95 , 7 40 Do. 7 31 56 96 40 1.45 .32 1.77 1.02 .16 2.95 Do. 8 31 03 95 07 .73 .24 .03 1.00 .73 .40 2.13 Do. 9 30 44 95 35 2.91 .25 .10 3.26 3.26 Do. 10 31 38 95 46 1.50 1.78 3.28 .58 1.78 1.95 7.59 Do. 31 07 95 27 .12 .31 .07 .50 .24 1.52 2.26 Do. 12 30 57 95 54 1.12 3.58 4.70 .13 4.83 Do. 13 Palestine 3.-.. __ ...... _ __ . _ . _ _. .. 31 45 95 40 1.24 .30 .79 2.33 5.02 .66 8.01 Do. 14 30 51 95 25 1.34 .32 1.66 .07 1.73 Do. 15 Shepherd 2 ______. __ . 30 30 Q^ nn 2.48 .06 2.54 .05 .69 3.28 Do. 10 31 52 96 05 2.80 2.80 (*) 2.91 .17 5.88 Do. San Jacinto River Basin: 17 30 18 95 28 1.41 .51 .20 2.12 .09 .01 2.22 Do. 18 30 39 95 24 .04 (*) 5.24 5.28 5.28 Do. 1Q 30 23 95 42 90 2.28 .41 2.98 .03 3.01 Do. 20 30 14 95 09 .60 .57 .15 1.32 .21 1.53 Do. Brazos Eiver Basin: 21 30 28 95 59 2.77 .61 .40 3.78 .52 4.30 Do. 22 Bartlett. ______30 48 97 22 3.60 2.10 .11 5.81 1.00 .24 7.05 Do. 23 30 10 96 24 2.02 2.45 1.51 5.08 .71 .50 1 10 Do. 24 31 00 96 55 2.00 .34 .58 2.92 .44 3.36 Do. 25 CaldwelL.... ___ ...... ___ . ______... 30 32 96 42 C> (*) (*) « 8. 59 26 30 51 96 59 1.63 1.72 .36 3.71 .16 3.87 U. S. Weather Bureau. 27 31 17 97 10 1.90 1.90 .20 2.10 Do. 28 Cllftoni __ .._-___ .. 31 47 97 27 2.58 1.11 3.69 .46 .68 .01 4.84 Do. 29 30 37 96 23 .01 2.57 3.62 .01 6.21 1.42 .10 7.73 Do. 30 31 54 98 36 .11 .78 .05 .94 .13 1.07 Do. «?1 31 07 0" U .85 1.-33 1.-23 Do. 32 Coryell __ ... ______. 31 31 97 39 1.42 .85 .36 2.63 1.16 .03 .47 4.29 Do. 33 Cranfills Gap 2 . 31 46 97 50 .21 .16 .37 .27 .64 Do. 34 30 22 96 49 (*) (*) (*) "17.50 J. D. Casper. 35 Eddy (near) *... ______. ____ . 31 15 97 19 .80 1.04 .34 2.18 .76 2.94 U. S. Weather Bureau. 36 28 59 95 20 .12 .03 .15 .14 .67 .96 Do. 37 31 26 97 45 1.81 i.47 3.28 1.08 .02 .56 4.94 Do. 38 Gindale ("near) 8__ __ _ . ______... 30 57 97 04 i.66 .56 1.68 3.90 .15 .10 4.15 Do. 30 31 43 98 07 .40 I .40 .28 .68 Do. 40 97 14 2.44 .82 .09 3.35 .46 3.81 Do. 41 3ft flfi 96 05 2.63 2.00 .47 2.07 .35 7.52 Do. 43 HeWitt i 31 27 97 10 .37 2.41 .08 .05 "> 01 .11 .15 3.17 Do. 48 Htooi...-. _., ,-_ . .- 31 59 «8 01 .28 .28 .20 .48 Do. 44 31 09 96 49 2.66 .23 .04 2.93 (*) 1.23 4.16 Do. 4fi 32 01 97 07 2.30 .33 2.63 .05 1.65 .80 5.03 Do. 4fi 20 68 98 30 1.00 6.50 7.60 E. M. Helwig. 47 20 67 96 27 1.76 2.75 4.50 Lee Bflebner. 48 30 64 98 n 1.37 2.25 3.62 3.62 II. 8. Weather Bureau. 40 31 04 98 10 2.32 1.06 .84 4.22 .12 4 34 Do. £0 30 25 97 01 .41 6.24 4.92 11.67 .09 .15 11.81 Do. I 61 Liberty HiHL -.~j . . .-- 30 40 97 55 3.50 2.50 3.80 .35 10.15 .30 10.45 Do. IK* 30 17 96 58 (*) (*) (*) 617.00 H. H. Marburger, Jr. 53 Marital . . . .. 31 18 96 64 .20 3.05 .15 .03 3.43 .03 .33 .06 3.85 U. S. Weather Bureau. 54 31 25 97 24 2.23 .20 2.52 .89 .12 3.53 Do. 66 31 40 96 30- 2.60 .18 .09 9 S7 .23 .20 .33 3.63 Do. 5fi Moline 2 ... . _- 31 24 98 18 1.33 .22 .99 2.54 .09 2.63 Do. 57 31 19 97 22 1.37 .81 2.18 .57 2.75 Do. 58 31 37 97 35 1.67 .12 1.40 3.19 1.54 .44 5.17 Do. 59 30 24 96 04 .09 2.82 .89 3.80 30 .02 4.12 Do. 60 New Bremen 29 54 96 24 1.00 7.00 8.00 J. J. Eoreneb. 61 Oeuaville 3 ...... 31 06 97 09 3.10 1.09 .15 4.34 .62 4.96 II. S. Weather Bureau. 6fl 20 35 95 45 .06 .26 .18 .50 .65 R4 1.79 Do. 63 31 30 96 51 .36 .47 .10 .93 1.42 2.35 Do. fi4 Sealy i...... _ ...... 29 47 96 10 .09 1.12 .77 1.98 1.44 .32 3.74 Do. fifi 30 21 96 31 4.08 9 30 ,28 .18 9.76 Do. ftfi 30 33 97 25 2.10 4.92 .15 7.17 ,9? .31 8.46 Do. fi7 Temple* ______31 05 97 17 3.24 1.25 .58 5.07 .40 .06 5.53 Do. 68 31 10 97 18 2.09 .36 .11 2 g& 1 64 .23 .03 A 4A Do. m 30 60 96 40 2.44 1.39 2.74 6.67 .04 1.12 7.73 Do. 70 Waco ,_. ._ _ ..... ___ ..... __ ...... 31 33 97 08 1.32 .30 .06 1.68 .40 .25 2.33 Do. 71 West.. __ . ______:...... 31 46 97 08 .72 .24 .28 1.24 .03 .20 1.47 Do. 7?, 31 06 2.40 .62 3.02 .18 .07 " 3.27 Do. 73 Wheetock (near)2_... ___ ..... ______. _ ..... 30 52 96 23 .23 1.15 2.98 4.36 Lll .02 5.49 Do. 74 Zabcikvflte (near)*. ______31 01 97 03 1.28 1.09 .70 3.07 .03 3.10 Do. Colorado River Basin: 7ft Andersen-ranch >_". ______31 20 98 48 ,09 .46 .79 1.34 .09 1 43 Do. 7ft Austin * _ . «. - 30 17 97 44 1 47 3.02 .70 5.19 .11 5.30 Do. 77 30 07 98 50 .10 1.12 1.22 .17 .22 1.61 Do. 78 Bastrop.. ______... 30 07 97 19 (*) (*) (*) 611.00 J. B. Pfeifler, Sr. 7» 30 25 98 51 1.75 1.68 3.43 .89 .61 A. ^H 80 Btenket ...... _ ....:... _ ... . _ ..... 31 50 98 47 .ii .29 .60 .32' on .04 08 1.4)2 Do. R1 'RfflfwrTWwyl 31 f3 00 M). .10 .15 .37 .03 .90 Do. 8ft Buchanan Datnu 30 45 98 26 2.37 2.70 5.07 . ,01 6.08 W 29 32 96 22 .10 .37 .62 .06 1.16 1.03 .31 9 49 Do. 84 Carmine ______30 09 96 41 (*) (*) (*) (*) &.75 Rfi Casten...... _ ... ____ .... __ ...... 30 42 98 57 1.78 .92 1 93 4.63 4 63 R« 29 42 96 33 .24 2.68 3 99 6.14 Oft .06 6.58 Do. ft? 30 22 98 17 1,4fi 2.59 .18 4.22 .58 4.80 Do. 88 Eckhardt ranch. __ . _ . _ .. ___ .. . 30 20 98 44 2.11 2.19 4.30 .07 4.37 Do. See footnotes at end of table. TABLE 1. Rainfall, in inches, June 28 to July 4, 1940 Continued fcO
June July Total July Total No. Lati Long June 28 June 28 tude itude to to pi. 5 28 29 30 1 Julyl 2 3 4 July 4
Colorado River Basin Continued o / 89 30 21 97 22 6.54 6.54 on 31 37 98 53 0.04 0.20 .78 1.02 1.02 91 30 39 98 17 3.54 2.15 0.92 6.61 0.08 0.08 0.06 6.83 Do. 09 29 54 96 40 2.08 4.66 6.74 93 30 15 98 52 .03 1.79 1.82 .15 .06 .02 2.05 94 30 11 96 56 4.75 5.50 (5.50 16.75 .36 .04 17.15 Do. 95 30 07 96 53 (*) (*) (*) «20.00 96 Goldthwaitei..- _-.._ _...... _ _ ._ 31 27 98 34 .50 .60 1.10 .36 1.46 97 30 11 98 13 1.40 2.32 3.72 3.72 Do. 98 Hye.--..-... ..- .. -_ _ ...... 30 16 98 32 1.64 .86 2.50 .23 2.73 Do. 99 29 55 96 52 1.63 9.41 1.68 ' 12.72 .60 13.32 Do. 100 31 23 98 52 .38 .46 .73 1.57 1.57 Do. CD 101 30 09 96 48 (*) (*) (*) ' 17. 25 mo 98 26 1.43 2.17 3.60 .27 3.87 103 30 37 98 34 1.60 2.23 2.02 5.85 5.85 Do. 104 30 45 98 40 1.75 2.80 .90 5.45 5.45 Do. g 105 31 13 98 23 .20 .70 1.16 2.06 2.06 Do. 106 30 08 97 50 1.03 3.66 4.69 .20 .15 5.04 Do. § 107 31 05 98 44 1.98 1.52 3.50 3.50 Do. 108 30 34 98 17 2.16 2.50 .02 4.68 .02 .08 4.78 Do. O 109 30 23 97 55 1.31 2.08 .01 3.40 .07 .02 3.49 Do. 110 30 13 97 12 (*) (*) 14.00 111 30 32 98 43 .43 40 .83 .83 112 Mullin...... '..-_.__-_._.._.__...__ 31 33 98 40 .09 .14 .47 .70 .07 .77 Do. 113 30 03 96 49 C) (*) 817.00 114 31 06 98 22 .65 1.00 1.65 .fl6 1 01 115 30 05 07 nn (*) (*) »20.25 116 31 18 98 34 .17 .50 .67 .18 .85 117 31 51 98 55 .35 .33 .18 .86 .86 Do. 118 30 56 98 44 3.10 1.34 4.44 .02 .12 4.58 Do. 119 29 14 96 12 .18 .40 .25 .03 .86 .33 .05 1.24 Do. 120 30 54 98 59 1.40 1.18 .10 2.68 2.68 Do. 121 30 35 98 51 .04 2.07 1.13 3.24 .12 3.36 Do. 122 31 13 98 34 .57 .80 1.33 2.70 O 7rt Do. 123 29 58 97 27 (*) (*) M 7. 10 134 81 17 Og 57 77 6ft .34 1.71 1.71 125 30 00 97 26 (*) 11 8.00 Fred Hilbig. 126 29 56 97 18 « (*) 12 20. 25 127 30 04 96 42 8.25 1.75 10.00 128 29 57 96 48 (*) (*) 139.40 H. O. Hackebeil. 129 30 22 98 28 1.48 2.22 3.70 .24 .14 4.08 U. S. Weather Bureau. 130 San Saba...... __ .. 31 12 98 43 2.43 1.50 3.93 3.93 Do. 131 30 14 97 20 (*) (*) 10.00 C. H. Evans. 132 31 07 98 57 1.00 1.00 65 2.65 .18 2.83 TJ. S. Weather Bureau. 133 30 01 97 10 .15 4.35 16.05 20.55 .19 20.74 Do. 134 30 00 97 16 (*) (*) " 17. 00 J. W. Young. 135 2ft 19 96 07 .14 .46 .26 .86 .04 .49 1.39 U. S. Weather Bureau* 136 30 01 97 00 (*) (*) '522.W W. G. Froelich. 137 30 54 98 31 5.12 1.63 1.18 7 Q1 7.93 U. 8. Weather Bureau. Lavaca River Basin: 138 28 59 96 38 .48 .48 1.70 2.18 Do. 139 29 41 97 01 4.50 18.20 22.70 Ervin Stavinoha. 140 Fordtran, 3 miles noi th._ ...... *>Q rtfi Q7 ftft (*) 1614.00 V. A. Cooper. 141 Freyburg, 3 miles no 29 48 96 59 8 C) 20.50 Adolph UMcfl. 142 29 02 96 31 .50 .60 C. W. Christ. 143 HallettsviUe 1 - --- 29 26 96 56 1.30 4 25 6.50 12.05 2.00 .18 14.23 U. S. Weather Bureau. 144 OQ f\Q 96 45 (*) (*) (*) 4.00 Mr. Boles. 145 29 36 07 ns 2.75 17.98 20.73 .43 21.16 tl. S. Weather Bureau. 146 Provident City- _ . 29 16 96 37 (*) (*) 2.75 J. C. Clearham. 147 29 41 96 54 ------3.20 10.37 ...... 13.57 ...... H. P. Schaeffer. 148 Do.i ...... 29 41 96 54 4.20 9.48 13.68 Emil Schulz. he) 149 Shiner. ______. 29 27 97 10 .12 2.60 13.00 15.72 O. A. Kosler. 150 Yoakum, 2 miles eas t »__._...... <>Q 18 97 07 .63 3.57 6 41 10.61 A. L. Harrison. 151 29 17 97 11 .99 3.46 8.59 13.04 1.43 .73 15.20 U. S. Weather Bureau. Quadalupe River Basin: 152 28 59 97 17 1.50 10.00 11.50 C. H. Arnecke. 153 30 05 98 25 .55 - .64 1.19 .32 .05 1.56 U. S. Weather Bureau. 154 29 47 98 44 .82 .82 .14 .96 Do. 155 29 38 98 27 .09 .95 .77 1.81 .90 .05 2.76 Do. 156 Q7 fifi (*) (*) 7.00 Red and White Grocery. CD 157 Cheapside 2...... 29 16 97 24 7.82 4.30 12.12 .50 .01 12.63 U. S. Weather Bureau. O 158 Cistern ______OQ AQ 97 13 (*) (*) i? 18. 00 Eddie Breitschoph. 159 29 04 97 17 2.00 12.40 .05 14.45 .60 .50 15.55 U. S. Weather Bureau. 160 Flatonia 1 ...... 29 41 97 07 .02 2.23 14.21 16.46 1.38 .05 17.89 Do. 161 Floresville-. ____ . 29 08 98 09 "."44" .79 2.92 3.71 ...... 49 4.20 Do. 162 Qoliadi.-...... 28 40 97 23 .58 2.17 3.19 .76 . 3.95 Do. 163 29 30 Q7 97 1.40 4.58 .10 6.08 .75 6.83' Do. 164 Gonzales, 10 miles nc rtheast ______29 "37 97 20 (*) (*) 18 18. 75 H. A. Adams. 165 Hochheim. _ ___ . 29 18 97 18 2.25 11.25 13.50 C. E. Bressel. 166 29 49 97 23 1.94 5.11 1.75 8.80 .40 .34 9.54 U. S. Weather Bureau. 167 Karnes City. ___ . 28 52 97 54 ... 1.25 2.75 ""43" 4.00 ...... 25 4.25 Do. 168 Kyle (near) i. ___ . 30 00 97 54 5.19 .81 6.43 6.43 Do. 169 29 51 97 44 ...... 2.50 2.42 "."is" 4.92 - .34 "."S" "."oef 5.26 Do. 170 Luling 29 41 97 39 2.28 3.01 5.72 6.32 Do. 171 New Braunfels J _ . 29 42 98 07 "."si" 3.71 .25 3.96 ...... 49 4.45 Do. 172 Nixon i...... 29 17 97 46 6.08 .36 6 98 .47 7.45 Do. 173 >Jlirggry >8 56 97 06 (*) (*) 6.00 E. P. Prioe. 174 Riomedina 1 ...... 29 26 98 52 "."75" 1.10 "i'oo" 1.10 ~I."§9" ""."is" 1.10 U. S. Weather Bureau. 175 28 54 97 43 3.64 ------8.39 ""."24" 10.11 Do. 176 San Antonio 2.. __ . 29 27 98 28 .02 3.23 .02 3.27 ""."62" 3.51 Do. 177 San Marcos. ___ . 29 63 97 57 .85 5.35 6.20 6.22 Do. 178 Seguin»-- _ . _ ... 29 34 97 58 .28 7.06 .66 8.00 .06 .01 8.07 Do. 179 Thomaston ____ . 29 00 97 09 (*) ,*) 6.75 Local resident. See footnotes at end of table. TABLE 1. Rainfall, in inches, June 28 to July 4, 1940 Continued
June July Total July Total No. Lati Long June 28 June 28 on Station tude itude to to pi. 5 28 29 30 1 Julyl 2 3 4 July 4
Guadalupe River Basin Continued o / o / 180 29 57 97 47 4.60 0.22 4.82 0.20 0.18 6.20 U. 8. Weather Bureau. 181 Victoria 2 ______28 48 97 01 0.07 .31 .51 ...... 89 .35 .10 ...... 1.34 Do. 182 Waelder. ______29 42 97 19 (*) (*) 13.50 Nolan Haddock. 183 29 00 97 32 .75 5.98 0.12 6.85 .37 7.22 U. S. Weather Bureau. Nueces River Basin: 184 Cadiz 2 ... _____ . ______28 26 97 55 .05 .44 .02 .51 .47 .23 0.09 1.30 Do. 185 29 09 98 54 .95 .64 1.59 .18 1.77 Do. 186 28 28 98 49 1.43 1.02 2.45 2.45 Do. 187 28 20 98 07 .29 .29 .13 .43 .85 Do. 188 Hindes 2 ___ . . . . _ ... ______28 43 98 47 2.57 2.57 .52 3.09 Do. 189 28 55 98 32 .08 1.79 1.03 2.90 .33 3.23 Do. 190 28 28 98 11 .71 .71 .76 1.47 Do. 191 Whitsett i-...... 28 40 98 18 3.15 .04 3.19 .84 4.03 Do. Coast basins: 192 Alief (near) 2 ______.... ___ ...... _ ... 29 43 95 36 2.20 .28 2.48 .34 .36 3.18 Do. 193 29 10 95 25 .03 .30 .33 .04 .60 .97 Do. 194 28 22 96 51 .66 .66 Do. 195 Bay City 2.... ______28 59 95 68 .12 .12 .24 Do. 196 Beeville 1 ______28 24 97 44 "."39" 2.59 ...... 2.59 .76 .05 3.40 Do. 197 Danevang 1 _ __ ... _ -_ _ _ . ______29 03 96 14 .01 .40 .37 .77 Do. 198 29 46 95 22 1.62 .21 1.83 .20 .45 2.48 Do. 199 29 39 95 17 1.10 .09 1.19 .24 .02 1.45 Do. 200 Jlaty 2 29 47 95 49 .32 .56 .54 .07 1.49 1.01 1.87 4.37 Do. 201 Matagorda' _____ .. ______28 42 95 58 2.39 2.39 Do. 202 28 36 96 38 .18 .05 .23 .37 .40 1.00 Do. 203 Satsuma 2 ______29 54 95 36 1.48 .48 1.96 1.96 Do. 204 Sintoni... _ ...... - 28 02 97 31 .15 .15 .61 .14 .90 Do. 206 29 36 95 40 .02 2.05 .17 2.24 .76 .05 3.05 Do. 206 Woodsboro ' ______28 13 97 20 1.70 1.70 .82 2.52 Do.
1 Measured in the afternoon. i Morning June 28 to noon June 30. " 3 a. m. June 29 to noon June 30. 2 Measured at midnight. 9 3 a. m. June 29 to 11 a. m. June 30. " Morning June 29 to noon June 30. ' Measured after each rain. » 2:30 a. m. June 29 to 1 p. m. June 30. » 2 a. m. June 29 to noon June 30. ^ 11 p. m. June "S to 1 p. m. June 30. M 1 a. m. June ?0 to JO a. m. June ?0. i* Afternoon Juna 20 to nomi^g Jnna ?,0. «Afternoon June 28 to afternoon June 30. " 2 a. m. June 29 to 11 a. m. June 30. » Morning June 29 to 11 a. m. June 30. Afternoon June 28 to noon June 30. w Morning June 29 to 1 p. m. June 30. '" 2 a. m. June 29 to noon June 30. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1046 PLATE 2
A, RECORDING GAGE AND SILT TRAP ON COLORADO RIVER AT AUSTIN, TEX. Photograph by A. D. Boone.
B, RECORDING GAGE AND MEASURING CABLEWAY ON COLORADO RIVER AT COLUMBUS, TEX. TYPICAL STREAM-GAGING STATIONS. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1046 PLATE
A, VIEW TOWARD HIGHWAY BRIDGE FROM NEAR LEFT EDGE OF OVERFLOW. Water has receded about 2 feet
B, VIEW FROM LEFT BANK AT RAILWAY CROSSING. * Bridge destroyed. Water has receded about 2 feet. LAVACA RIVER AT HALLETTSVILLE, FLOOD OF JUNE 30, 1940. Photographs by Mrs. James Pogue. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1046 PLATE 4
A. VIEW NEAR CENTER OF BUSINESS DISTRICT Water has receded about 2 feet.
B, VIEW OF CHANNEL LOOKING DOWNSTREAM FROM HIGHWAY BRIDGE AFTER FLOOD RECEDED. LAVACA RIVER AT HALLETTSVILLE, FLOOD OF JUNE 30, 1940. Photographs by J. J. Dibala. JUNE-JULY FLOODS IN SOUTH-CENTRAL TEXAS 15
Distribution of the rain with respect4 to time and are^ fe shown by isohyetal lines in plates 5 and 6. Plate 5 shows the total rain for the 4-day period June 28 to July 1. The rains of June 28 caused no floods but served to condition the soil to permit a greater runoff from the heavy rains, which fell mostly during the 12-hour period centering around midnight June 29. The latter rains caused all the record- breaking peak rates of flow. The rainfall recorded for July 1 prob ably contributed slightly to the peak flows in the lower reaches of some of the streams. Plate 6 shows the total rain fo~ the 7-day period June 28 to July 4, which includes all the rainfall contributing to the flood runoff during the period covered by this report.
FLOOD STAGES AND DISCHARGES In addition to the records of stage and discharge collected at the regular stream-gaging stations, measurements of peak rotes of flow were obtained at five places on comparatively small streams that had record-breaking floods. These measurements were made by the slope- area method. The results are shown in table 2. In general, because of the small cut channels and wide flood plains covered with varying amounts of timber and brush or vith growing crops, opportunities for measuring peak discharges b^ slope-area methods were scarce. Conditions are considered fair to good at the sites where the five measurements were made. At two places where slope-area measurements were made, Buckner Creek near La Grange and West Fork Navidad River near Schulen- berg, the floods were particularly outstanding. Buckner Creek near La Grange reached a stage about 10 feet higher than k^own before at a point upstream from the backwater from Colorado River. The highest known flood prior to 1940 occurred May 18, K35, and de stroyed a bridge that had been built in 1880 about 4 miles above the mouth of the creek. After being rebuilt, the bridge was destroyed a second time by the flood of June 30, 1940. The flood on West Fork Navidad River at the place of measurement below Mulberry Creek near Schulenburg reached a stage 6 feet higher than in 1936, the year of the greatest flood previously known. The flood on Navidad River at Vienna, 20 miles downstream from the place of measurement on West Fork Navidad River, Maximum flood previously known Maximum during present flood No. Drainage Discharge Discharge on area Stream and place of determination (square Period of Gage Gage pi. 6 miles) known Date height Second- Time height Second- floods (feet) Second- feet per (feet) Second- feet per feet square feet square mile mile Brazos River Basin: 1 Brazos River at W^co __ ...... 1 19, 260 1854-1940 Sept. 27, 1936 J40.9 246,000 12.8 20.78 38,500 2.0 2 U9,910 1899-1940 Dec. 3 or 4, 1913 . . 35.8 16.00 30,000 1.5 3 129,190 1899-1940 Dec. 5, 1913...... 54.0 July 2, 4 to 8 p. m.« . 26.80 57,900 2.0 4 133,430 1899-1940 61.1 July 3, 6 to 10 p. m.s. . 42.80 83,100 2.5 5 i 34, 450 1899-1940 Dec. 9,1913-.. . 49.0 Tnlv d. Q ft TTI 8 33.44 80,200 2.3 6 i 34, 810 1899-1940 Dec. 10, 1913...... 48.2 July 5, 6 a. m.3__ __ .. 31.22 82,100 2.4 7 135,300 1898-1940 Dec. 11 or 12, 1913 .. 35.3 "«"647,"665" "~92.~6~ July 5, 2 p. m.< ...... 32.14 65,000 1.8 8 Little River at Cameron ...... 7,034 1852-1940 Sept. 10, 1921 53.2 36.65 75,400 10.7 9 990 1913-40 Dec. 5, 1913..- ..... 22.0 ""7i,"665" "~74.T Julv 1, 4:30 a. m ...... 19.27 56,800 57.4 10 949 1899-1940 1900. . 24.0 Julyl - 12.83 1,800 2.0 Colorado River Basin: 11 i 26, 360 1843-1940 July 7, 1869. 46.0 17.44 45,700 1.7 12 Colorado River at Smithville...... 127,850 1870-1940 Dec. 4, 1913.-...... 47.4 21.24 70,400 2.5 13 128,400 1869-1940 July 9, 1869...... 56.7 40.18 182,000 6.4 14 Colorado River at Columbus...... 129,040 1869-1940 /July I860...... 41.6 1 July 1, 12 m. to 2 p. m. 36.2 152, 000 5.2 \Dec.6, 1913...... 41.6 ' 15 Colorado River at Wharton _____ ... i 29, 350 1869-1940 Dec. 8, 1913.. '38.9 35.99 100,000 3.4 16 Colorado River near Bay City...... 29,620 1940 78.8 83,300 2.8 17 Dry Creek at Buescher Lake, near 1.48 1940 June 30, 8:45 a. m. .... 24.96 1,870 1,260 Smithville. 18 Rabbs Creek near Warda ...... 92.8 1879-1940 1870- .- m «55,000 593 19 Buckner Creek near La Grange.. _ ... 184 1880-1940 May 18, 1935...... doA- ...... 5106,000 576 Lavaca River Basin: 20 Lavaca River at Hallettsville- _ ...... 101 1870-1940 July 16, 1936...... 32.8 28,300 280 40.6 5 93, 100 922 21 Lavaca River near Edna ...... 887 1909-40 May 25, 1936 ..... 33.8 83,400 94.0 32.51 73,000 82.3 22 Youngs Branch near Moulton ...... 6.8 1887-1940 58,900 1,310 23 Rocky Creek near Hallettsville. ___ .. 116 1913-40 5 74, 700 644 24 Navidad River near Ganado _ __ . .... 1,116 1909-40 May 27, 1936...... 39.8 94,000 84.2 36.54 64,500 57.8 25 West Fork Navidad River near Schu- 106 1909-40 May 1936...... « 124, 000 1,170 JUNE-JULY FLOODS IN SOUTH-CENTRAL TEXAS 17 U5 QDOCO O ' cacdoi co ® & co § ~ a «§~ If> H'COTS >O CO > 1H * «?« ^S^ S|So ""O ^S'Sos a <» S '313$ "a05 v,uS $T O J " «*" « g-d g 3 dj«jjl g l^cfgl ca !ca rt «frt- CO 18 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 The records obtained at the stream-gaging station on D-y Creek at Buescher Lake, near Smithville, are of special interest because of the small drainage area, 1.48 square miles, and the heavy rain, 19.5 inches. This was probably the first time in Texas that a reliable record of discharge was obtained from so small an area subjected to such an amount of rain. The hydrograph of discharge for this station is shown in figure 6. The flood is discussed more fully under "Rainfall and runoff studies." (See p. 82.) The stage-discharge relation was defined by current-meter measure ments at 23 of the 25 stream-gaging stations that are listed in this report for study of the floods of June-July. The discharge was computed either from the rate of change in contents in reservoir or from the formula for discharge over the spillway for Dry Creek at Buescher Lake, and the peak discharge was obtained by slope-area measurement of Lavaca River at Hallettsville. SUMMARY OF FLOOD STAGES AND DISCHARGED Table 2 contains data showing maximum stages and disci arges for the flood of June-July 1940 at places where discharge records were obtained, together with similar data, where available, for the maximum flood previously known. The locations of places in table 2 ere shown in plate 6, which is a map of the area affected by the storm and flood of June-July. STAGES AND DISCHARGES AT STREAM-GAGING STATIONS Stage and discharge records at the 25 stream-gaging stations within and adjacent to the area of heavy rainfall during the storm of June- July are given on the following pages. A number of these stations, located upstream from the area of heavy rainfall, had only small floods. Floods in the main Brazos and Guadalupe Rivers were small in comparison with the maximum known. Records ftrom such stations are included to give as complete a picture as possible of the rainfall- runoff relations in the area covered by this report. Maximum stage and discharge records are given for the flood in November 1940 at stations on Brazos River where that flood was greater than the flood in June or July. However, as the November flood was not outstand ing in Brazos River Basin and as no report has been prepared covering the November flood except in San Jacinto River Basin, tables of discharges are not included. The-records consist of a statior descrip tion, a table of daily mean discharges and daily and total runoff for JUNE-JULY FLOODS IN SOUTH-CENTRAL TEXAS 19 the flood period, and a table of discharges at indicated times during the flood in sufficient detail for a reasonably reliable delineation of the hydrograph. Under the heading "Drainage area" in the station description for some stations the probable noncontributing area is noted. This area lies above the ,Cap Rock (see pi. 1) and rarely contributes any direct flow to the lower reaches of the streams. The drainage areas were measured from topographic maps where available and from soil maps, county road maps, and the Geological Survey base map c* Texas. The heading "Maxima" in the station description is divided into several paragraphs. The first paragraph, headed 1940, gives the maximum discharge and gage height that occurred during the flood of June-July. Succeeding paragraphs give information about other outstanding floods. The dates heading the second paragraph are the inclusive dates of gaging-station records, and those heading the third paragraph give the period during which no known floods occurred that were greater than any described. It may be assumed that no reliable information was available concerning floods pror to the earliest date shown. In a few places information is given concerning a flood in November 1940. The tables showing gage height and discharge at indicated time are designed to give the rise and recession of the flood in detail. , The rate of rise and fall is frequently so rapid that daily mear values do not define the hydrographs adequately. Hydrographs of discharge, showing characteristics of the flood peaks and condition of flow during the flood period, are shown in figures 2-8. The discharge at an indicated time is related to the corresponding gage height in accordance with a stable stage-discharge relation, except for those stations where there are changing conditions of channel at which stations the gage height has been a-djuHed some what. In determining the discharge from the gage height, the gage height has been used to the nearest hundredth, half tenth, or tenth of a foot, in accordance with certain established limits of refinements, which are indicated in the station description. The records conform to the regular arrangement us?,d by the Geological Survey in its water-supply papers. The stations on the' main stem of a stream are treated first, in downstream order, and then stations on. the tributaries in similar order, beginning with the uppermost. The streams in each tributary basin are listed before those of the next basin below. JUNE-JULY FLOODS IN SOUTH-CENTRAL TEXAS 21 133J-QN003S JO SQNVSOOH1 Nl '3SMVHOSIQ 22 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 YE6UA CREEK NEAR SOMERVILLE FIGUBE 4. Graphs of discharge at s tributaries of Brazos Eiver, June 28 to July 10,1040. JTJNE-JTJkY FLOODS IN SOUTH-'Gl&CTRAL TEXAS 60 SMITHVILLE 40 -AUSTIN X 7 20 \ 180 28 29 30 1 2 3 456789 10 JUNE JULY 5. Graphs of discharge at stream-gaging stations on Colorado Kiver, June 28 to July 10, 1940. 24 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 I2m. 3p.m. 6 9 12p.m. 3a.m. 6 9 12m. 3p.m. 6 9 12p.m. 3a.m. June 29 June 30 July I JIGUBE 6. Graph erf discharge at stream-gaging station on Dry Creek at Buescher Lake, n-^ar Smithville, Tex., June 2ft to |My 1,1§49. JUNE-JULY FLOODS IN SOUTH-CENTRAL TEXAS 25 28 29 3O I 8 9 10 JUNE FIGURE 7. Graphs of discharge at stream-gaging stations in the Lavaca River Basin, June 28 to July 10, 1940. 26 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 28 29 30 JUNE FIGURE 8. Graphs of discharge at stream-gaging stations in the Quadalupe River Basin, June 28 to July 10,1940. ' JWE-JTJLY FliOODS IN SQUTB^CENTRAIi TEXAS 27 BRAZOS RIVER BASIN BRAZOS RIVER AT WACO, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 3l°33'40", long. 97°07'45", at Washington Avenue Bridge in Waco,' McLennan County, 2^ miles downstream from Bosque River. Datum of gage is 356.80 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. BBAINAGB ABBA. 28,500 square miles, of which about 9,240 square miles is probably noncontributing. GAGE-HEIGHT BECORD. Water-stage recorder graph. DISCHABGB BECOBD. Stage-discharge relation defined by curre»t-me*er measure ments. Gage heights used to hah* tenths between 7.6 and 9.3 feet; hun- dredths belpw and tenths above these limits. Discharge obtained by shifting- control method. MAXIMA. 1940: Discharge, 38,500 second-feet at 4:30 a. m. June 29 (gage height, 20.'78 feet). 1898-1939: Discharge, 246,000 second-feet 9:30 p. m. Sept. 27, 1936 (gage height, 40.9 feet), levee on left bank overtopped and broken. Flood of Dee. 3, 1913, reached a stage of 39.7 fee't (levee on left bank broken, discharge not determined) according to information furnished by U. S. Weather Bureau. RBMAEKS. Small diversions upstream affect low flow only. Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, Second- Awe- Second- Acre- Seoond- Acre* Day feet feet Day feet -feet Day frflt , feet June July July Con. 24...... 7,280 14,440 1 1.-.. 7,400 14,680 10. 2,540 5,040 25 ___ . ... 4,700 9,320 2 6,720 11,350 11 1,940 3,850 26 4,700 9,320 3 11,600 23,010 12. 7,420 14,720 27 19,500 38,680 4.. __ ... 9,480 18,800 13...... 6,130 12,160 28 13,500 2&,780 5 ...... a ion 8,310 14 . 3,200 6,850 29 . 18,400 , 38,480 6 ...... 2,820 6,590 16 1,810 3,790 30...... 7,960 15,790 7 1 tAS\ 4.440 18 1,480 ' 2,940 8 . 2,090 4,150 17 939 1,860 9 .- _ . 2,110 4,190 Runoff, in acre-feet, for period June 24 to July 17______-_ _.... -298,000 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated\Uws, t940 Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet . Hour Feet Hour IS* * feet feet feet June g4 June SB Jwte$8 > 1 a. m. .... 10.5 4,310 2 a. m ..... 11.8 6,100 Continued 6 ...... 10.3 4,060 11.4 5,620 14.1 10,800 9...... 10.4 A issn 6. _ ...... 11.2 5 240 11.-. 14 f 12,500 10.. -.... 10.7 4,670 »...... 10.9 4,830 12 ____ - 15,1 13,700 11...... 11.8 6,100 18m. 10.7 4,570 12m-_ 12.5 7 OOA 10.3 4 060 June $fl 1 p. m ..... 13.3 8,950 12 10.0 3,700 1 a. m . 15.5 14,800 2 ...... 13.8 10,100 2 15. S 15,700 3 ...... 14.1 10,800 3.. .,.. 16.1 16,700 5...... 14.3 11,400 9.9 3,580 *...... 16.3 17,600 8. __ .. ... 14.4 - 11,700 12 in... . 9 7 3,340 « :_. 16.7 19,100 9 14.0 10,600 9 A 3,000 16.9 20,000 10 ___ .... 13.3 8,950 10.9 4,830 10 ___ . 17.0 20,400 11. __ . 12 7 7,710 8. ... 12.5 7,330 12m. __ . 17.2 21,300 12...... 12.4 7.140 9 __ .- 13.4 9.180 2 D. m ..... 17.2 21.300 28 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 , Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Con. Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet June 27 Julys July 9 Continued Continued 6 a. m ..... a 22 1,690 17.2 21,300 14.0 10,400 12m...... 8.65 9 inn 8 _ . ... 17.1 20,800 11 14.8 12,500 9.06 2,500 12... ___ . 16.8 19,500 12 14.9 12.800 12 9 93 o R7n June 88 JulyS July 10 4 a. m 16.3 17,500 2 a. m ..... 15.5 14,500 6 a. in ..... 9.26 2,720 8..... _ .. 15.6 15,100 3...... 15.8 15.400 8.98 2,400 12m...... 14.9 13,100 4...... 15.8 15,400 12...... 8.80 n OKft 14.0 10,600 6...... 14.6 11,900 9...... 13.6 9,640 8...... 13.9 10,100 July 11 10.. _ . _ . 13.8 10,100 10 12.9 7,900 8.65 13.7 9,870 11 12.7 7,520 8.37 1,820 12...... 15.5 14,800 12m...... 12.9 7,900 12 __ ... 8.'24 1,690 1 p. m ..... 14.3 11,100 2 .... . 14.5 11,700 July 1H 17.9 24,000 4...... 14.6 11,900 8.18 1,640 2...... 19.6 32,500 6...... 14.4 11,400 6...... 8.50 1,920 3...... 20.2 35,500 7:30 14.1 10,600 8 10.5 4,180 4... __ .. 20.7 38,000 8 14.4 11,400 10-.-..-. .- 12.8 7,710 4:30.. _ - 20.8 38,500 9 ...... 14.6 11,900 12m...... 13.7 9,640 5...... 20.7 38,000 11 14.7 12,200 2 p. m _ .- 14.2 10,800 6 ___ ... 20.2 35,500 12 14.3 11,100 4 .. 14.7 12,200 7...... 19.2 30,500 6 _. 14.5 11,700 8... __ - 18.4 26,500 9 ..... ,. 14.3 11,100 9...... 17.7 23,100 13.8 9,870 12. . .. 13.8 9,870 10. _ . _ .. 17.1 20,400 5 . .... 13.5 9,180 16.4 17,500 6 14.3 11,100 July 13 12m. _ ... 15.7 15,100 8...... 14.7 12,200 3 a. m ..... 13.3 8,740 15.3 14,000 10...... 15.0 13,100 6 12.8 7,710 2. _ ...... 15.1 13,400 12m...... 14.2 10,800 9- - 12.1 6,440 14.6 11,900 13.7 9,640 12m-- ._ 11.5 5,520. 4. _ . _ .. 14.1 10,600 4-. ».. 13.3 8,740 3 p. m ..... 11.1 4,960 5. __ .... 13.7 9,640 6 12.9 7,900 6 ... 10.8 4,570 7.... 13.4 8,950 8 ...... 12.5 7,140 9 10.6 4,310 13.4 8,950 10 19 1 6,440 12 10.6 4,180 12. 13.4 8,950 12 11.7 5,800 July 14 June 30 July B 4 a. m ... 10.4 4,060 13.5 9,180 11.0 4,830 8 10.2 3,700 10. . 13.4 8,950 8-.. .. 10.6 4,310 12m 9.7 3,110 12m.-. .... 13.2 8,530 12m...... 10.4 4,060 4 p. m ..... 9.25 2,670 12.7 7,520 10.2 3,820 8 8.92 2,300 12.2 6,610 12 . 9.8 3,340 12 8.70 2,100 9...... 11.8 5,950 10.. . __ ... 11.7 5,800 July 6 July IS 12... __ ... 12.0 6,270 6 a. m _ . 9.5 3,000 6 a. m ... 8.35 1,780 12m...... 9.3 2,780 12m...... 8.14 1,600 July 1 6 p. m _ . 9.10 2,560 6 p. m ..... 7.94 1,440 12.9 7,900 12 8.90 2,350 8 ...... 7.90 1,400 2...... 13.4 8,950 9 ...... 9.00 2,400 S...... 13.7 9,640 10 10.0 3,460 7^ ..... 14. 2 July 7 11- __ ..... 10.5 4,060 8*...... 13.6 9,410 8.80 2,250 12 10.4 3,940 9 _ .. __ . 13.1 8,320 12m-.. . 8.60 2,050 10 _____ - 12.8 7,710 9 p. m ..... 8,40 1,870 July 16 11 __ ...... 12.6 7,330 10 .. 8.70 2,150 la. m ..... 9.9 3,^40 12m ~ 12.3 6,780 11. __ . .... $.9 3,460 2 9.3 2,670 11.8 5,950 12 ...... 10.7 4,440 4 8.40 1,780 6 11.5 5,520 '6 8.00 1,440 12 ...... 11.1 4,960 1 p m.. ... 7.65 1,160 7.80 1,280 10.8 4,570 4_ 7.70 1,200 JulyS 2- . .. 10.2 3,820 8 ..... _ 7.60 1,120 12m__ 10.8 4,570 4 ...... 9.25 2,720 12 7.53 1,080 10.6 4,310 6 8.67 2,100 11.5 5,520 8 8.40 1,870 July 17 7. . 12.2 6,610 12m...... 8.20 1,690 6 a. m __ . 7.42 992 8 ...... 12.5 7,140 8.10 1,600 7.26 876 9 . 12.8 7,710 12 ...... 8.07 1,560 12 - 7.25 869 JUNE-JULY FLOODS IN" SOOTH-CBHTRAI 29 BEAZOS BIV1B NEAE MARLOf, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 31°17'20//, long. 96°58'10", on bridge on State Fighway 139 1 mile upstream from Deer Creek and 4.5 miles southwest of Martin, Palls County. Datum of gage is 312.15 feet above mean sea level, datum, of 1929. DBAINAGB ABEA. 29,150 square miles, of which about 9,240 square miles is probably noncontributing. GAGE-HEIGHT BECOBD. Graph drawn on basis of two or more wire-weight gage readings daily and" crest gage height obtained from floodmark. DISCHABGE BECOBD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measure ments. Gage heights used to half tenths between 4,3 and 61 feet; hun- dredths below and tenths above these limits. Discharge obtained by shifting-control method. ' MAXIMA. June 1940: Discharge, 30,000 second-feet 12 m. June 29 (gage height, 16.0 feet, from floodmark). 1938-40: Discharge, 69J500 second-feet Nov. 26, 1940 (gage height, 25.0 feet). 1899-1937: Stage, 35.8 feet Dec. 3 or 4, 1913, and 35.2 feet Sept. 28, 1936 (discharges not determined). REMARKS'. Small diversions upstream affect low flow only. Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1940 Second- Acre- Second- Acre- Second- Aere- Day feet feet Day feet feet Day feet feet June July Con. July-~ Con. 24 __ ... 6,880 11,660 2 ...... 6,000 11,900 10 2,600 5,168 25 -..... 6,600. 13,090 3 ... .. 9,700 19,240 11. ____ 2,310 4,580 26...... 6,200 12,300 4 ...... 10,400 20,630 12 2; 770 5,490 27 13,500 26,780 5 6,300 12,500 13 3,980 7,890 28.. __ .... 20,200 40,070 6 ..... - 3,750 7,440 14 - 3,240 6,430 29.. __ ... 23,300 46, 210 7 ...... 5,160 16 - 2,900 5,750 30 11,000 21, 820 8 2,310 4,580 2,450 4,860 9. ... 2,750 5,450 17 2,310 4,580 July 7,900 15, 670 Runoff, in acre-feet, tor period June 24 to July 17.______.__-- _ 319,200 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 194O Second- Seoond- Second- Hour Feet feet , Hour Feet feet Hour ' Feet feet June $4 June £7 June S9-T- 2a.m. .... 8.4 4,800 8 a. m __ . 10.5 10,300 Continued 6 _ ...... 8.3 4,590 12m___ n o 12,600 14.8 '25,400 12m _ 8.5 5,020 11.6 10 __ ...... 15.6 28,500 4 p. m ..... 8.9 6,940 12.1 15>500 12m.-l .... 16.0 - 30,000 8. _ . _ 9.6 7,760 6 . 12.5 18,900, 15.9 29,600 12 _ ... 10.1 9,160 8 ...... 18,300 15.6 28,506 10 . 13.1 6 ..... 16.0 3d, 206 June %B 12 13.3 19, 700 8 ... . 14.3 23,500 4 a. m ..... 10.3 9,720 10 13.4 20,100 8 __ ...... 10.0 8,880 12 - 15,800 12m...... 9.1 6,420 1^? 7 21,200 4 p. m ..... 8.2 4,380 8 ..... 13.8 21,600 June SO 8 ... 7.9 3,790 13.7 21,200 11.6 13,800 12 7.8 11.2 12,500 13.1 19.000 8 10.8 11,200 June 86 12.5 16,900 12m- 10.6 10,600 4 a. m _ 7.8 3,600 6p.m. .... 10.3- ,9,720 8- ... 8.3 4,590 12 10.0 8,880 12m.-. .... g 940 1O 1 15,500 4 p. m. . 9:5 7,480 3 ...... 12.0 15,100 Julyl 8 ...... 10. 1 9,160 4 . . 12.0 15,100 12m--. _ . 9.7 &.040 12... __ ... - 10.2 9,440 6 ...... 13.1 19.000 12 D, m __ 8.9 5,940 763365 i8 3 30 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 , in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Con. Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour ' Feat feet JulyS July? July IS 8.7 5,460 12m...... 7.2 2,600 8.4 4,590 8...... 8.7 5,460 6.9 2,170 8 ...... 8.1 4,170 12m-.. . 8.8 5,700 12m.. 8.0 3,790 6 p. m 9.1 6,420 July 8 6 p. m_-__. 7.7 3,240 12 9.4 7,200 12m_ 7.0 2,310 12...... 7.6 3,240 12 p. m..._. 7.2 2,600 July 3 July 14 9.6 7,760 12m...... 7.6 3,240 12m...... 10.2 9,440 12m...... 7.3 2,750 7.5 2,900 6 p. m. 11.0 11,800 12 p. m.. 7.2 2,600 8 . .... 11.2 12,500 July IS 10 . 11.3 12,800 July 10 12m...... 7.4 2,900 12 11.2 12,500 12m...... 7.2 2,600 7.2 2,600 12 p. m_ 7.0 2,310 July 4 July 16 10.9 11,500 July 11 12m... _ . 7.2 2,450 12m... . 10.5 10,300 12m...... 7.0 2,310 12 p. m ..... 7.2 2,310 6 p. m_ 10.1 9,160 12 p. m.. 6.9 2,030 12 . 9.8 8,320 July 17 July IS 12m...... 7.2 2,310 12 m.._ _ . 6.8 2,030 7.1 2,310 12 m...... 9.0 6,180 6.8 2,030 8.3 4,590 7.2 2,600 6...... 7.8 3,600 8. ___ ... 8.3 4,590 V 12m... 7.8 3.600 10 ____ ... 8.5 4,800 7.5 3,070 12.. __ . ... 8.6 5,020 BRAZOS RIVEB NEAR BRYAN, TKX. LOCATION. Lat. 30°37', long. 96°29', 2.4 miles downstream from Little Brazos River and 9 miles southwest of Bryan, Brazos County. Datunr of gage is 192.3 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. DRAINAGE AREA. 38,430 square miles, of which about 9,240 square miles is probably noncontributing. GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Water-stage recorder graph except July 10-12, for which a graph was drawn on the basis of twice-daily staff gage reading!? DISCHARGE RECORD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measure ments. Gage heights used to half tenths between 5.0 and 7.4 feet; htmdredths below and tenths above these limits. Discharge obtained by shiftfng-control method. MAXIMA. July 1940: Discharge, 57,900 second-feet 4 to 8. p. m. Ji'ly 2 (gage height, 26.80 feet). 1925-40: Stage observed, 46.1 feet, present site sand datum, May 2O, 1930 (discharge not determined). Flood of Nov. 27, 1940, reached a stage of 42.5 feet (discharge, 150,000 second-feet). 1899-1924: Stage about 54.0 feet, present datum, Dec. 5, 1913 (^discharge not determined). REMARKS. Small diversions upstream affect low flow only. FLOODS dwcK&rgte, in second-feet, and runoff,' in acr&~f$f, Second- Aere- Second- Acre- fite"«>a(Jr' AOTe- Day feet feet Day feet feet Day feet feet June i July Con. July Gem. 25... ,... s; 940 17,730 2...... 55,400 109,900 11...... 4,000 26 i 10,108 20,030 3...... 49,000 97,190 12 _ __ . 4,110 8,i!o 27 9,700 19,240 4 40,400 80,130 is.: __ . 6,610 13, 110 28...... 16,900 33,520 6...... 35,500 70,410 14.... __ .. - 11,200 22,210 29 23,100 45,820 6...... 19,200 38,080 15 ...... 7,780 15,430 30. > 40,600 80,530 7 ... 9,200 18,250 16 5,710 11,330 8.. 6,600 13,090 17 ...... 5,710 11,330 July 9 5,400 10, 710 I,...... 44,300 87,870 10 4,250 8,430 Eunofl, in acre-feet, for period June 25 to July 17, 1940.. __ .' ..... __ 840,400 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated tine, 1940 Second- Second- Second* Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Fset feet June $6 Julyl JvtyS- 1 a. m ..... 10.0 7,550 3 a. m ..... 23.0 44,800 Oontinued 6 10.0 7,550 6 _ 22.5 43,200 12m.. 144 I ft l%nt\ 12m..- ... 10.4 8,370 10 . 22.3 42,600 f Q a 16,800 11.6 11,000 12 m_._- ... 22. ,3 42,600 13.4 15,600 12..., ...... 11.7 11,200 22.5 43,200 6 .... 13.0 14. fifin 6 22.8 44,100 9 12.4'O 12,900 Jun&£6 9 .... 23.5 46,300 12.. . n 11,700 11.7 11,200 12 24.1 48,300 6 p. m ..... 10.9 9,440 July? 12 10.9 9,440 July® 11.8 11,000 2a.m. . 24.6 50,000 6 . 11.2 10,100 June Iff 4 ...... 25.1 51,700 9 _ . ... in a 9 440 12m...... 10.8 9,220 6 25.5 53,200 12m.. _ - 10.7 9*000 10.7 9,000 8 ...... 26.0 55,000 10.5 8,580 8. __ .... 11.1 9,880 26.3 56,000 10,4 8,370 10 11.9 11,700 12m.- 26.5 56,800 9 .. , 10.2 7 OKA 12...... 12.5 13,100 2p.m..... 26.7 57,600 12...... 10.0 7,550 4 ...... 26.8 5F.900 June 88 8 ,26.8 57,900 July 8 1 a. m ..... 12.8 14,100, 10 26.6 57,200 a n 7 QKA 2... ___ . 13.0 14,600 12. . 26.4 56,400 g 9 7 6,970 3 ..... 13.2 15,000 9 4 4 _ .. . 13.4 15,600 9 Q 'J 5^880 ,6...... 13.6 16,000 26.0 55,000 12 _ .. __ 9 1 5,710 9 .: _ .. 13.9 17,000 6 25.4 52,800 12m.- 14.1 . 17,600 9 ...... 24.8 50,700 July 9 6 p. m ..... 143 18,100 12m.. 24.0 47,900 A n 5,540 12 __ ...... 146 18,900 23.6 46,600 12m.. Q A 5,370 23.1 45,100 8 Q 5,870 June 29 6 .... 23.0 44800 12. ____ .. 8.8 5,210 3 a. m ..... 147 19,100 12 22.8 44,100 9 ..... 15.3 20,900 12m.. 15.7 22,200 July 4 JulylO 2 p. m ..... 16.2 £3,600 3 a. m . 22.6 43,500 3 a. m ..... 8.7 4,890 4 .... 16.5 15,400 6 22.2 . 42,300 g * Ct 0 4 280 6... _ .... 17. tf t 26,000 9 ..... 21.7 , 40 700 . fit 1 o'nao 8 17.5 27,800 12m.-. 21.3 39,500 ft fl 3,850 10 , 18.1 29,400 21.2 19 7.9 3,710 12...... 18.6 31,200 10 20.9 *JQ nf\(\ i June SO Julys July 11 ' 2 a. m...». 19.2 32,900 6a.m..... 20.8 38,000 6a.m., . $710 4 19.7 34,700 9 ...... 20.7 37,700 g ft A' 6 20.2 36,200 12m- 20.3 . 36,800 12 m ft 1 < 3*899 8-. __ ... 20,7 37,700 20.0 QK CfIA 8p.m..,.. a -a. A Iftfl 10, 21.3 39,500 6. _ - __ . 19.4 33,500 12, sr & jf «54w\ 21.8 41,000 8 . 19.0 qo Atvt 2 p. m ..... 22.3 42,600 10. ___ .... 18.5 30,600' 4 ..... 22.8 44100 12.. ,,_.__ ... 17 Q OQ QAft Julia 5 __ ...... 23.3 45,700 O 4 8L . 23.6 46,600 July 6 4,130 £::::::::: 23.7 47,000 17.4 27,200 10- , S O 4,130 8...... 23.8 47,300 4 ...... Ifi S 25,500 D 1 3,990 23.8 47,300 6 ... 16.2 23,600 8 1 3,990 10 ___ ', _ - 23.7 47,000 8 .... 15.6 21,700 10 .,.. it ^ A "xai 12...... 23.6 46,300 10...... 14.9 19,600 12...... 8.4 4.430 32 TEXAS FLOODS OP 1940 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Con. Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet Hour feet Feet feet Hour F?et feet July IS July 15 July 17 2 a.m.: _ 8.6 4,730 6 a. m ..... 10.7 8,580 3 a.m.. ... 8.9 5,210 6. 8.7 4,890 9.9 6,970 9 9.1 5,540 10 ______8.6 4,730 12 ...... 9.5 6,230 9 A 6,050 2 p. m. _ 9.2 6,710 9 ____ ... 9.4 6,050 6 ______10.7 8,580 12...... 9.4 6,050 10. ____ . 11.8 11,000 July 16 12 ...... 12.0 11,500 3 a. m. .... 9.4 6,050 July 14 9...... 9.3 5,880 6 a. m ..... 12.1 11,700 3 p. m. 9.2 5,710 - 6 p. m .. 11.7 10,800 9...... 8.9 5,210 12...... 11.2 9,660 12. .... 8.8 5,050 BRAZOS RIVER NEAR HEMPSTEAD, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 30°07'05", long. 96°11'30", at Texas and New Orleans R. R. bridge prior to Nov. 1, 1940, and thereafter at bridge on U. S. Highway 290 4,500 feet upstream, 6.5 miles northwest of Hempstead, Waller County, and 7 miles upstream from Caney Creek. Datum of gage at railro?.d bridge is 112.10 feet and at highway bridge 118.07 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. DRAINAGE AREA. 42,670 square miles, of which about 9,240 square miles is prob ably noncontributing. GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Graph drawn on basis of two or more chain gage readings daily, including reading at crest stage. DISCHARGE RECORD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-me^er measure ments. Gage heights used to half tenths between 7.2 and 10.7 feet; hun- dredths below and tenths above these limits. Discharge 9 a. m. July 5 to July 17 obtained by shifting-control method. MAXIMA. July 1940: Discharge, 83,100 second-feet 6 to 10 p. m. July 3 (gage height, 42.8 feet at railroad bridge and 37.7 feet at highway bridge from U. S. Weather Bureau gage). ., 1938-40: Discharge, 116,000 second-feet Nov. 30, 1940 (gage height, 44.04 feet, observed at crest at highway bridge). 1899-1937: Stage, 61.1 feet on Dec. 8, 1913 (gage height of this flood at TJ. S. Weather Bureau gage 4,500 feet upstream, which is at same location and to same datum as wire-weight gage used after Nov. 1, 1940, was 56.1 feet; discharge not determined). REMARKS. Flood flow during major floods affected by natural storage in wide flood plain. Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1940 Second- Acre- Second- Acre- Second- Acre- Day feet feet Day feet feet Day feet feet June July Oon. July Con. 25...... 10,300 20,430 2 ..... 72,000 142,800 10 11,100 22,020 9fi 10,600 21,020 3 ..... 82,000 162,600 11 9,500 18,840 97 11,100 22,020 4...... 79,100 156,900 12. 8,600 17,060 28 ______11,600 23,010 5 ...... 66,800 132,500 13.. .. 8.100 16,070 29 . 20,000 39, 670 6. -.. 51,600 102,300 14 9,400 18,640 30 ______30,400 60,300 7...... 31,600 62,680 15 . 12,600 24,990 8...... 17,000 33,720 16 . 9,640 19,120 9...... 13,000 25, 790 17 7,440 14,760 1 __ . .... 53,000 105, 100 Bunofi, in acre-feet, for period June 25 to July 17______..._- 1,262,000 IN , in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indit$fe$ti'n^t 1940 Second- Sed>nd- Second- Hour Feet feet Hoar Feet' feet Honr Feet , feet June 85 July § J»ly# 6 a. m._,_ 18.4 10,800 3 a. m_____ 42.0 80.200 6 a. m. 21.7 13,400 17.7 9,780 9 __ ...... 42.5 821000 12m...... 21.1 12,800 12. ____ 17.5 9,500 42.7 82,700 - 20.7 12,400 9 ...... ___ 42.8 83,100 12. 20.2 11,800 June 86 12...... 42.7 82,700 6 a. m ..... 17.6 9,640 July 10 18.9 11,500 12m...... 19.6 11,000 12. _ ...... 19.0 11,600 42.6 82,400 19.1 10,300 9. ___ ... 42.2 80,900 June #7 3 p. m ..... 41.6 78,800 July 11 19.0 11,600 9 ...... 40.7 75,500 12 w--- __ 18.6 9,m 10 p. m 18.3 10,600 12 ....._.._. 40.3 74,100 17.9 8,720 12...... 18.2 10,500 July 5 July 1% June 88 39.9 72,600 12m.,. __ 17.8 3,330 18.1 10,300 9 .... 39.0 68,400 17.6 8,330 6p.m. .... 19.6 12,500 3 p. m ..... 38.1 64,200 12 . 21. S1 15,200 9 _.____.... 37.3 61,800 July 18 12 ...... 3R 0 60,500 12m _ ._ 17.6 8,330 June 89 12 p. m. 17.4 8,070 6 a. m ..... 22.5 17,700 July 6 6p.m..... 24.2 22,200 3 a. m...... 36.5 59,100 July 14 ,12 24.9 24,100 9 ___ ... 35.5 65,000 8a.m__ . 17.3 .1,940 34.3 ,49,900 12m,-, .... 17.9 8,730 » ...... 32.9 42,800 19.6 10,900 25.4 25,500 12. ____ . 32.1 4ft fi(¥l 12__ i __ 20.6 12,500 8 26.0 27,200 12m-.- 26.8 29,400 July 7 July 16 4 p. m ..... 27.8 32,400 3a.m .__._ 31.2 88,400 3 a. m. 20.8 12,800 8 _ .... 28.9 35,700 ft.... 29.6 '34,500 9... ____ 20.9 13,000 12... ___ . 30.7 40,000 28.0 29,400 20.8 12,800 26.6 25,200' §;.. _ 20.0 11,600 July 1 12.. 25.9 23,000 12, - 19.7 11,200 3 a. m ..... 31.4 43,500 9 _ _ ... 33.6 50,900 July 8 July 16 3p.m. .... 35.1 56,000 3a.m. 25.4 21,180 6 a. in 19.1 10,300 9 ___ .... 36.6 61,100 8. _ . ___.. 24.8 19,300 6 pi m 18.1 8,980 12 _ ...... 37.3 63,600 9 __ ...... 24.3 17^700 12 . 17.6 8,330 12 m- 23.8 16,200 July 8 3 p. m. .... 23.5 15,200 July 17 38.0 66,000 6 . ._._.. 23.0 14,700 6a.m _ .. 17.1 7,680 9 _____ . 39.2 70,200 9 __ . __ . 22.6 14,400 6 p. m 16.7 7,190 40.4 74 400 19 99 ^ id. 9_nfi 12i _ .. __ 16.6 7,070 9 p. m 41.3 77)700 12...... 41.6 78,800 BEAZOS EIVEK HEAR SAN FEIIPE, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 29046'20", long. 96°02'10", at bridge on IT'. S. Highway 90 200 feet downstream from Missouri-Kansas-Texas R. R. bridge, 1.3 miles downstream from Irons Creek, and 5.0 miles southeast of San Felipe, Austin County. Datum of gage is 79.32 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. DRAINAGE AREA. 43,690 square miles, of which about 9,240 square miles is probably noncontributing. GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Water-stage recorder graph. DISCHARGE RECORD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measure ments. Gage heights used to half tenths between 8.1 and 1C .4 feet; htm- dredths below and tenths above these limits. Discharge obtained by shift ing-control method. MAXIMA. July 1940: Discharge, 80,200 second-feet at 9 a, m. July 4 (gage height, 33.44 feet). . 1938-40: Discharge, 152,000 second-feet Nov. 2S, 1940 (gage heigh*, 41.1 feet). 1899-1937: Stage, 49.0 feet on Dec. 9. 1913 (discharge not determined). REMARK^. Flood flow during major floods affected by natural storage in wide flood plain. 04 t TEXAS FLOODS OP 1940 , Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1940 Second- Acre- Second- Acre- Second" Acre- Day feet feet Day feet feet Day fe«t feet June July Con. July Con. 25 11,600 22,810 2.-..-.. - 66,800 132,500 11 10,200 20,230 26 9,940 19,720 3 76,000 i en 7nn 12 8,900 17,650 27 11,000 21,820 4.- .... 80 100 13. ... 9,000 17,850 28 11,000 21,820 5 72,200 143,200 14 ...... Q fiftn 17,060 29 18,800 37,290 6 60,000 15 12,100 04 flftft 30.. _ 30,000 59,500 7 . 42,400 83,700 16 11,900 23,600 8 26,700 52,960 17 - 9 18ft IQ 01 n July 9 16,500 32,730 50,000 99,170 10 12,000 23,800 Runoff, in acre-feet, for period June 25 to July 17______1,318,000 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated tim?, 1940 Second- Second - Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour F«Jt Feet June BS JulyS July 9 la.m 14.7 13,400 Continued 3 a. m ..... 17.3 19,500 8 14.4 i« 4nn *m Q 68,000 9 ...... 16.6 17,200 13m.- , 14.0 11,500 3H Q 70,300 16.1 15,300 13.6 10,900 19 O-l O 71,500 9 ...... 15.7 14,200 12 13.4 10,200 12 15.5 13,700 JulyS June 26 3 a. m.. 31.5 72,600 July -10 13.2 10,000 9 32.0 74,600 15.2 12,700 9... . 13.1 9,780 32.6 77,000 6 p. m _ .- 14.7 11,500 13.1 a TRft oq -I 7Q ftftfi 12...... 14.4 9 _ . 13.4 10,200 12 33.2 79,400 12 13.6 10,900 July 11 July 4 12m... 14.2 10,200 JuneS? 6 a. m ..... 33.4 P0.200 12 p. m ..... 13.8 9,340 1 p. m ..... 14.0 11,500 9 33.44 80,200 12. 13.9 11,300 33.4 80,200 July IS 12 33.1 79,000 12m.. 13.4 8,700 June 88 6 p. m _____ 13.3 8,500 12m. 13.7 10,900 JulyS 10 ...... 13.8 9,560 13.6 10,700 OO Q 76,600 12 ___ . ... 13.7 9,340 12 14.1 11,800 9 32.5 74,200 3 p. m ..... 31.9 70,700 July IS 9. 67,600 12m..... 13.3 8,700 14,6 12,700 12 30.9 65,700 12 p. m .____ 13.3 8,700 9 15.7 15,000 12m... 16.5 18,200 Julys July 14 3 p. m __ 17.5 21,500 3a.m. 30.6 64,100 12 m.._... 13.1 8,300 6 18.3 24,200 6 30.2 62,600 12 p. m.. 13. 5 9,120 12 18.9 26,300 9 29.9 61,100 12m...- 29.6 60,000 July 15 June SO 3 p. m ..... 29.2 58,500 3 a. m _____ 14.0 10,200 19.1 26,600 28.7 ft . 14.7 11,800 9 19.5 28,000 9- 28.2 54,800 3 p. m .... 15.2 12,900 20,3 30,900 12 27.7 9 15.4 , 13,400 6 __ .. 20.7 32,300 12- - 15.4 13,400 9 21.3 34,500 July? 12 _ . ___ . 22.1 37,400 27.0 50,000 July IS 6 26.3 47,400 3 a. m _____ 15.2 12,900 Julyl 9 25.7 45,100 9 __ 15.0 12,400 22.8 40,000 12m. __ .. 24.8 41,800 3 p. m..,_. 14.6 11,500 6.... _ '23.6 42,900 39,600 9-, ... 14,2 10,700 9 24.7 47,000 6 ...... 23.2 37,000 12 ..__.. 14.0 10,200 25.8 51,100 9 . 22.5 34,800 26.6 54,000 12 21.8 33,000 July 17 6 _ ...... 27.3 56,600 3a. m _ .. 13.8 10,000 9 __ 28.0 59,200 9 13.4 9,340 12 28.4 60, 700 3 a. m ..... 21.2 31,200 3 p. m _____ 13.2 8,900 9 20.0 27, TOOr 9.. __._.... 13.1 8,500 JulyS IQ Q 24,900 19 12.9 8,100 29.0 63,000 9 18.0 22,100 9...... 29.7 65,700 12 17.7 21,200 "£-- "vVV*; .--. "' "' . :+*:: *feteS.r ' , l BRAKOS 8IYJBB AT BKSHBIQKD, TfiX. , ,'..''" LOCATION. Lat- 29°3&', long. 95°45', on bridge on II. 8. B3ghwr y 5,9 in Rich mond, Fort Bend' County, 925 feet downstream f»om bridge of Texas and New Orleans R,. R. (formerly Galveston, Harrisburg & SuM A|%hio Ry.). Da*uin of ga^6te40.8 feet !above mean sea level, datwcft pf 191%- a l f, DBAINAOE^ABBA. 44,050 square miles, of which about 9,240-square miles is 4 probably no'ncontributing. GAGE-HISICMBT KBOOKD. Water-«tage recorder graph. DISCBABGE BAco»D. ^Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measure ments. Gage heights used to half tenths between 2.5 and 4,5 feet; hundredth® below and tenths above these limits. Discharge obtained by shifting-control method. 'MAXIMA. July 1940: Discharge, 82,100 second-feet 6 a. m. July 5 (gage height, 31.22 feet). 1903-6, 1922-40: Discharge, 120,000 second-feet June f 1929 (gage height, 40.6 feet), and 117,000 second-feet Nov. 28, I940\(gage height^ 38.4dfeet). N 1899-1902, 1907-21: Stage, 48.2 feet, present datum, Dec. 10, 1913 (discharge not determined), from flood marks on right -bank 1,000 feet up stream from gage. REMABKs.-7-Considerable water diverted above station, for irrigation. Flood flow during major floods affected by natural storage in wide flooc Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runofff in ncre-feet, Second- Acre- Second- Acre-, fioond- Acre- Day feet feet Day feet feet Day feet feet June July Con. July Con. 25 14,100 27,970 2-.. ... 61,000 121,000 II.. ., 11,200 , 22,210 26...... 10,200 20,230 3...... 74,000 146,800 12-. -.. 9,400 18,640 27.... __ _. 10,200 20,230 4 ...... 81,200 161, 100 13 , 8,900 17,650 28... __ ... 11,500 22,810 5...... 80,000 158,700 14 - 8,400 16,660 29...... 13,500 26,780 6 ...... 70,200 139,20ft, IS 9,110 ,18,070 30..-.- . 27,000 53,550 7 _ 54,500 108, 100 16 12,200 24,200 1 8 . 34,600 68,630 17 9,700 19,240 July 9 ...... 20,500 40,660 1...... 41,800 S3, 910 10.. ___ ... 14, ON) 27,770 ', fa acre-feet, for petfodJune 25 to July 17,1940 __.______.__ 1,363,000 , in feetr and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet June £5 June && JuMeeaj 3 a. IB..;, 11.8' 15,900 12m.- . 10.1 11,800 Conttaued 9 ..,. 11.3 14,700 12 p. m.. ... 9.8 11,200 6 p. m 16.1 29,000 3 p. m.....^ 10. * 13,500 Q __ t __ 16.5 30,500 9 ___ <,. 10.3 12,300 . June 89 12, 17.0 32,000 12 iai 11,800 6a.m. .... 9.8 11,200 - Jtayl 12m.. 10.2 12,300 4a.m..... 17.6 34100 JuneS8 6 p.m.. ... 11.4 15,100 8 . 18.7 37,400 2a.m __ 10.0 11,600 12 ...... 13.1 t 20, 300' 12m.-,.;., ft. ft 40,700 2 p.m. - 9.4 10,400 4 p. m..... a.i 44900 12 .. 9.2 9,640 JuneSB ?&« 60,000 3 a. m ..... 140 22,600 12...... 23.5 . 53,000 / Jv,ne£? 6.. ____ . 14.7 24,600 6 ». m _ *. 9.3 9,860 9.., ... 15,2 »,2QO- Julys 12iQ,...... 9.5 10,300 12m 15.5 »iod 4a.ta 243 55,600 12p.m.. , mo 11,600 3 p. m- _ 15.8 28,200 8...... 25.2 58, SOU TEXAS FlJOODS OP 1940 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Con. Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet . feet Hour Feet feet Jains JulyS July 1 S Continued 3 a. m ..... 22.7 42,000 2 a. m 9.7 8,800 12m 26.8 61,100 6 ...... 21.8 QQ KAfl 4 _ - 9 0 9 000 26.4 63,400 9 .... 20.9 36,800 6 9! 8 Q fUVt 8...... 26.9 65,500 12m.- 20.0 34,400 12m-. 9.8 9,000 12...... 27.4 67,900 19.2 32,000 a s 9,000 6 ...... 18.4 29,900 12 9.6 8,600 9- _ ..... 17.6 97 fiflfl 27.9 70,200 12 1ft Q 26,000 July 14 8 28.3 71,900 9.6 8,600 12m ..- 28.8 74,700 July 9 9 _ . 9.5 8,400 4 p. m _ 29.1 76,400 3 a. m 16.2 24,000 3 p. m_. ... 9.5 8,400 8 ___ .... 29.5 77,700 6 15.6 oo tynti 9.4 8,200 12 29.8 78,700 9 ...... 15.1 21,300 19 9.4 8,200 12m- _ 14.6 20,000 July 4 3 p. m _ .. 14.2 19,000 30.2 80,100 6 ...... 13.8 17,900 July 15 12m...... 30.6 81,500 g 13.5 17,100 9.3 8,020 30.9 82,100 12- __ 13.2 16,400 9 ___ . 9.3 8,020 12 31.2 82,100 9.9 9,200 July 10 9 10.8 11,200 12.6 14,900 12. 11.2 12,100 31.22 82,100 12m-- 12.2 19 Qfin 12m..- _ . 31.2 80,100 11.8 13,000 30.9 77,700 12 11.4 12,300 July 16 12. .... 30.6 75,300 11.4 1&500 July 11 9 ... . 11.4 12,500 JulyS 6 a. m ..... 11.1 11,800 3 p. m 11.3 12,300 30,3 73,600 12m.-. _ . 10.8 11,200 11.0 11,600 12m 29.8 70,200 10.6 10,700 12. _ 10.8 11,200 29.4 68,200 12 10.5 10,500 8 ...... 29.0 66,500 12 ...... 28.5 64,100 July IS July 17 6 a. m ..... 10.3 10,100 3 a. m.. 10.6 10,700 July 7 12m.. 10.2 9,860 9...... 10.2 9,860 4 a. m ..... 28.0 61,100 2 p. m ..... 10.2 9,860 3 p. m- 10.0 9,420 8 ___ 27.3 58,700 6 .... 9.9 9,200 9.7 8,800 12m 26.5 54,600 12 Q 7 12 9.6 8,600 4p.m _ 25.6 51,000 8 ... 24.6 48,400 12 23.6 44,900 / BRAZOS MVEB AT EAST COLUMBIA, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 29°09', long. 95°37', at bridge on State Highway 35 at East Columbia, Brazoria County, 1 mile downstream from Yarners Creek. Datum of gage is 2.9 feet below mean sea level, datum of 1929. DBAINAGE ABEA. 44,540 square miles, of which about 9,240 square -miles is probably noncontributing. GAGE-HEIGHT BECOBD. Graph drawn on basis of two or more wire-weight gage readings daily. DISCHABGE EECOED. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measure ments. Gage heights used to tenths throughout. Discharge below 8,000 second-feet seriously affected by tides. Discharge June 30 to July 9 ob tained by shifting-control method; the amount of shift used J"1y 4-7 was generally taken as the mean of the shifts indicated by the tr^o discharge measurements made on each of those days. MAXIMA. July 1940: Discharge, 65,000 second-feet 2 p. m. July 5; gage height, 32.14 feet 3 a. m. July 6. 1938-40: Stage, 34.12 feet Dec. 5, 1940 (discharge not determined). 1898-1937: Stage, 35.3 feet Dec. 11 or 12,1913 (discharge not determined). The flood of 1899 reached a stage 0.3 foot lower than the flood of 1913, according to information furnished by a local resident. JUNErJULY FLOODS IN SOUTH-CBHtTItAIj TEXAS 37 REMABKS. Flood flow greatly affected by natural storage in wide flood plain. Results of eight discharge measurements made'July 4r-7, 1940, furnished by Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army. Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1940 Second- Acre- Seebnd- Aere- Se «ond- Acre- Day feet feet - .Day feet feet Day feet feet June July Con. July Con. 30 . 16,800 33,320 3...... 57,600 114,200 8 ~ . 48,600 96,200 4 63,000 125,000 9 32,100 63,670 5 .. 64,100 127,100 10 20,100 39,870 27,100 53,750 6 61,100 121,200 11 -.... 14,700 29,160 2 45,600 90,250 7- . 56,700 112,500 Bunoff, in acre-feet, for period June 30 to July 11. __ _.___._ ....._.1,006,000 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated tine, 1940 * Second- Second- Second- Hour Feett feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet June 30 July S July 7 3 a. m __ 12.4 14,400, Conttnue4 Continued 6 12.9 15,300 OQ Q 69,600 31.0 56,000 9 ... 13.3 16,100 30.2 60,400 6 _ .. 30.8 55,500 12m.. .. 13.6 16,700 12 30.4 60,900 9 30.5 55,000 13.9 17,,500 12 30.0 53,900 6 ... 14.2 18,100 9 ... 14.6 19,000 30 7 62,000 12 _ .... 15.1 20,100 6 30.9 62,500 29.6 63,100 9 _ ... 31.1 63,100 6 . 29.1 52,000 Julyl 12m.. __ . 31.2 63,300 9 ...... 28.6 50,900 15.6 21,400 31.3 63,600 12m 28.1 49,800 6 ... . 16.1 22,600 6 .... 31.4 63,600 26.3 45,200 9 ... 17.0 24,600 9 63,900 12- _ 24.4 40,400 12m... 17.8 26,500 12 31.6 64,200 2 p. m ..... 18.4 28,200 Jill'99 4-.. ... 19.0 on CAA 23.5 33,300 6-. .. 19.6 31,200 31.7 64,200 6 _ 22.5 . 36,000 8 20.2 32,600 6 . qi 7 64,200 9 ...... 21.6 33,990 10 20.8 34,200 9 ...... 31.8 64,400 20.7 31,900 12 21.4 36,700 12m... qi Q 64,700 19.8 -29,900 32.0 , 65,000 6 18.9 27,900 July® 3 32.0 64,400 9 ...... 18.2 26,200 22.0 37,600 6 OO 1 64,200 12 17.6 24.800 4 22.6 39, 100' 9 32.1 63,600 6 ... 23.2 40,700 12 QO 1 JidyiO 8... _ .... 23.8 4.0 AAA 17.0 23,700 10 24.5 44,400 6 16.5 22,600 12m... _ 25.2, 45,800 32.1 62,500 9 .... 16.0 21,400 25.6' ' 47,l 4t»- 6 32.1 62,00^- 15.4 20,100 4_. ____ . 26.1 48,800 9 _ ... 32.1 61,400 14.9 19,000 6 26.6 50,100 32.1 61,200 6 14.3 17,700 8 27.0 00 A 60,600 9 13.9 16,900 10 27.4 52,300 6 .. on A 1 60,400 19 13.6 16,300 12- __ ..... 27.7 53,100 9 31. ft 58,800 12 31.8 59,300 JtOyll JulyS 3 a. m .. 13.4 ,15,900 3a.m 28.2 64,700 July 1 9. _ ...... 13.0 15,100 S .... 28.6 55,800 01 7 co con 19 -A 14,406 «. ... 29.0 56,900 6 ___ 31.6 58,200 12.1 13,600 12m.. _ .. 29.3 57,700 9- _ - ... 31.4 57,400 K.- ____ 11.8 13,000 Sp. m__ 29.6 58,800 12m.. 31.3 56,900 38 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 UTTUB BIVEB AT CAM^RON, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 30°50', long. 96°57', at site of old McCowan bridge 2,100 feet upstream from bridge on U. S. Highway 77 and 2 miles southeast of Cameron, Milam County. Datum of gage is 281.9 feet above mean, sea le^el, datum of 1929. DRAINAGE AREA. 7,034 square miles. GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Water-stage recorder graph. DISCHARGE RECORD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measure ments up to 90,000 second-feet, and extended above by logarithmic plotting on basis of one slope-area measurement at 53.2 feet gage heipht. Gage heights used to half tenths between 5.0 and 6.2 feet, and 32.4 andv34.8 feet; hundredths below and tenths between and above these limits. MAXIMA. July 1940: Discharge, 75,400 second-feet 11 a. m. July 1 (gage height, 36.65 feet). 1916-39: Discharge, 647,000 second-feet Sept. 10, 1921 (gage 1 eight, 53.2 feet, present site and datum), by slope-area method. 1852-1915: The flood of 1852 reached about the same stage as that of Sept. 10, 1921, according to information furnished by local resident. REMARKS. Flood flow affected by natural storage in wide flood plrin. Small diversions affect low flow only. Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff in acre-feet, 1940 Second- Acre- Second- Acre- Seeord- Acre- Day feet feet Day feet feet Day feet feet June July Con. July Con. 28 . 3,500 6,940 2 35,500 70, 410 8 . 2,490 4,940 29. .... 6,500 12,890 3 ..... Q 2,100 4,170 30 ...... 38,000 75, 370 4 ...... 25,000 49,590 10 . 1,830 3,630 5 ..... 6 ... 4,900 9,720 1 ..... 66,000 130,900 7 - 3,000 5,950 Runoff, in acre-feet, for period June 28 to July 10______-_____-__ 441,500 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time 1940 Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet June 88 Jtime£9 Jtrae'SO Continued Continued la. m ..... 13.9 4,000 7 p. m. .... 25.7 9.540- §p. m 35.8 56,600 6 _ . .. 13.2 3,700 8 __ ... 26.4 Q Gage-height, in discharge, in second-feet, ttt indicated tiiafe I yf4?$? Con. Second- Second- I'H ' Seoond- Hour ,-Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hoar feet JttZyf JvAyS July? Continued Continued 4a.m. -. 12.8 3,330 34.35 32,000 32.0 13,600 8 _ . ___ 11.9 3,170 8 ______34.15 29,400 8.. . . 31.6 13,200 J.2m..._ _ 11.6 3,050 12...... 33.85 26,100 10 . 31.0 12,700 11.3 2,930 12 DQ...... 30.1 12,100 8 _____ 11.0 2,810 «/«Z|fS 28.8 11,300 12 _____ . 10.8 2,730 3.3.40 21>800 4...... 27.2 10,400 1 12m_-_ 33. IS 19,600 6. oc q 9,320 JulyS '33.25 20,400 8...... 23.9 8,600. 10.4 2,570 12 _ ...... 33.75 25,100 10. ^. 22.4 7,850 12m...... 10.1 2,450 12 ...... 21.0 7,150 9.9 2,370 July 4 12 _ . __ . 9.6 2,.250 3 a, m ..... 3410 28,800 6...... 34.16 28,400 Julys July 9 a... .:..... 34.10 28,800 2 a. m ..... 19.7 6,660 6a.m..... 9.4 2,180 12m.. ... 33.85 26,100 4...... 18.4 5,980 12 m__ ..... 9.2 2,100 33.70 24,600 6 ...... 17.3 5,480 9.0 2,030 S3. SO 22,700 8 ...... 16.3 5,040 12.. _ . .... as 1,940 6 .... 33.30 20,900 10 ... 15.5 4,690 8... _ .... 33.15 19,600 12m- ...... 14.8 4,380 July 10 8.6' 10...... 32.95 18,000 14.2 4,130 8 a. m ..... 1,870 12...... 32.75 16,400 4. 13.7 3,910 12 m...... 8.5 1,830 6. ____ . 13.4 3,790 6 p. m ..... 8.3 1,750 8.... _ ... 13.2 3,700 12 8.1 1,680 32.55 15,200 10-.....-.. 12.9 3,580 4 32.4 14,400 12...... 19 7 3,500 YEGUA CREEK NEAR SOMERV1IIE, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 30° 19', long. 96°30', at bridge on State Highway 36, 760 feet downstream from bridge of Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Ryv, 2 miles south of Somerville, Burleson County, and 5 miles upstream fro^n Davidson Creek, Datum of gage is 199.29 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. DBAINAGE AREA. 990 square miles. GAGE-HEIGHT BECOBD. Water-stage recorder graph. DISCHARGE BECOBD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter meas urements. Gage heights June 28-30 used to half tenths between 6.5 and 10.2 feet; July 1-10, 7.0 and 10.2 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these limits. Discharge obtained by shifting-control method July 9, 10. MAXIMA. 1940: Discharge, 56,800 second-feet 4:30 a. m. July 1 (gage height, 19.27 feet). 1924-39: Discharge observed, 33,600 second-feet May 30, 1929 (gage height, 16.7 feet, present site and datum). 1913-23: Stage, 22.0 feet, present site and datum, Dec. 5, 1913 (dis* charge not determined), according to information furnished by chief engineer of Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Ry. Co. REMABKS. Flow affected by natural storage in wide flpodLplam. Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in ocre-jfeei, Wi Seeond- Acre- Second- Acre- SeroBd- Acsre- ,Day feet feet. Day . .feet feet ;T3ay s ,. ., t;^.-^ feet June Jidy Con. My Con,. 28 3? - v n 27,309 54, 1W - '^ste-^ ! %340 29 ! 585 1,160 3,._ .... 12,800 25,390 -&. ,^ =*7g' ,, +1,260 30...... 19,500 38,680 4 5,700 a, 310 «;.' ..;. 7SO 5 __ . . 3,l«0s 6,250 ' W...-».^.^ . -174 . 'JH8 July 6...... 1,940 3,850 49,000 98,980 Runoff, M acre-feet, for period June 28 to July 10..__.___.__...__... . u. 244,100 40 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Seeond- Second- Seeend- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet June S8 June SO- July 4 Continued 3 a. m _____ 10.5 7,340 3.17 44 17 9 40,700 6... .. 10.2 6,520 12m...... 2.99 36 9...... 17.6 43,700 9...... 10.0 6,000 2.95 34 10 .. .. 18.0 46,600 12m...... 9.75 5,410 11... .. 18.3 48,900 9.45 4,780 June 89 12 18.6 51,200 8.. __ .... 9.20 4,320 9 04 34 12 9.00 3,980 4...... 3.20 45 Julyl 6...... 3.85 80 18.9 53,600 6 . ... 4.35 114 2...... 19.0 54,400 6 a. m _____ 8.70 3,480 4.62 136 3...... 19.2 56,000 12m...... ,8.50 3,160 8. ... 4.80 154 4:30.. ... 19.27 56,800 6 p. m ._ 8.25 2,740 19 .. .. 4 95 180 6-.. .. Id 9 56,000 12 - 8.05 2,410 10 5.15 230 8. ... 19.1 55,200 11 5.25 265 10 ... 18.9 53,600 July 8 2m ...... 5.35 310 12m...... 18.6 51,200 6 a. m .... _ 7.85 2,120 5.62 473 18.4 49,700 12 m._____ . 7.70 1,930 4 _ ...... 5 Od 694 1C -I 47,400 7.55 1,760 6 .. 6.27 936 6 ... 17.8 45,200 12...... 7.35 1,550 8 . 6.70 1,290 8...... 17.5 42,900 10 _ ...... 7.06 1,590 10 ...... 17.2 40,700 July? 11 7.45 1,940 12...... ifi s 37,800 7.15 1,350 12 7 on 2,260 6 p. m _.._. 6.78 1,020 12. 6.58 860 June 30 1 a. m ..... 8.25 2,790 3 a. m ..... 16.4 34,800 July 8 2 , 8.70 3,480 6...... 15.9 31,400 6 a. m ..... 6.38 716 9.20 4,320 9...... 15.5 28,800 6 1*> 556 4 .... 9.70 5,300 12m...... 15.2 27,000 12...... 5.98 485 5 . 10.2 6,520 3 p. in ..... 14.8 24,800 6 - 10.4 7,060 6 ...... 14.4 22,600 Julys 7 . 10.6 7,620 9...... 14.0 20,700 . &y 440 9 ...... 10.8 8,200 12-. . 13.6 18,800 6 p. m ____. 5.64 316 10. 11.0 8,800 12.... ______5.43 250 11. U o Q Adfl , 11.7 11,100 13.2 17,000 July jO 1 p. m ..... 12.4 13,700 6...... 12.8 15,300 6 a. m _____ 5.25 195 13.2 17,000 9...... 14,100 4.82 153 3 . 14.1 21,100 12m... 12.1 12,500 12 4.59 133 4 14. Q 25,300 11.7 11,100 5 - 15.6 29,400 6 . . 11.3 9,760 6...... 16.3 34,100 9...... 11.0 8,800 7 _ 16.8 37,800 12...... 10 8 8,200 BAVASOTA RIVER NEAR EASTERLY, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 31°10'10", long. 96°17'55", at bridge on U. S. Highway 79 1 mile upstream from Missouri Pacific E, R. bridge and 6 miles northeast of Easterly, Robertson County. Datum of gage is 276.42 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. DRAINAGE AREA. 949 square miles. GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Water-stage recorder graph. DISCHARGE BECOBD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measure ments up to 35,000 second-feet. Gage heights used to half tenths between 4.9 and 7.2 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these limit". MAXIMA. July 1940: Discharge, 1,880 second-feet 7 to 12 p. m. July 1 (gage height. 12.83 feet). 1924-39: Discharge, 53,200 second-feet Sept. 5, 1032 (gage height, 21.9 feeii, from flobdmark"). 1899rl923: Discharge, afcout 7J.,OQO second-feet in 1900 (gage height, 24.0 feet), according to yrformatioa furnished by looal rodents. EEMABKS. Flopd flow affected by natural storage in wide flood pKin. JUNE^JULY FLOODS IN SOUTH-CEkTEAI* TEXAS 41 i Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in Second- Acre> Second- Acre- . Sewwa- Acre- Day feet feet Day feet feet Day feet feet June July Con: Juiy Con. 28. _ ...... 46 91 2...... 1,750 3,470 7 ...... 137 272 29. _ __.._ _ 216 428 3. _ ...... 1,400 2,780 8...... 75 149 30 . 933 1,850 4...... 708 1,400 9...... 50 99 5. _ ...... 510 1,010 10 .. 37 73 July 6...... 319 633 I ... 1,790 3,550 Runoff, in acre-feet, for period June 28 to July 10______- 15,800 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time. 1940 Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feit feet June $8 July 2- 1,840' July 6 la. m ..... 3.68 47 6a.m ..... 12.7 t> a. m. __ 6.75 380 12m __ ... 3.55 42 12 m... 12.5 1,750 12m...... 6.35 316 10 p. m ..... 3.76 50 6 p. m ..... 12.4 1,710 6 p. m .... 5.90 246 12. __ . ... 4.00. 62 12 . 12.2 1,630 12.. _ .. _ 5.55 200 June Z9 JulyS July 7 4.62 108 12.0 1,560 12m...... 4.93 132 12m...... 5.25 170 12m...... 11.7 1,460 4.54 OR 6p. m ..... 6.35 324 6 p. m...... 11.0 1,260 12...... 7.2 474 12...... 9.9 998 JulyS 12m...... 4.23 75 JuwSQ 12 p. m ..... 3.96 60 6a.m. __ 7.8 600 July 4 12m. _ ... 8.6 720 7 a', m. .... 8.4 680 JulyS 2 p. m ..... 8.7 760 9...... 8.3 660 12m...... a 75 50 6 ...... 11.2 1,340 12m. __ . 0. ft 680 12 p. m . 3.57 43 8.. _ . _ . 11.8 \ 1,660 3 p. m ..... 8.4 680 10...... 12.1 1,630 6 _ . _ 8.4 680 July 10 12...... 12.2 1,670 o* U 12m ...... 3.41 37 12 p. m __ 3.27 32 July 1 , JuiyS 6 a. m ..... 12.4 1,7)0 6 a. m ..... 7.7 546 ftm...... 12.6 1,790 12m...... 7.5 510 7 p. m ..... 12.8 1,880 6 p.m..,.. 7.4 492 12 12.8 1,880 12. _ ...... 7.15 447 COLORADO RIVER. BASIN v< COLORADO RIVER AT AUSTIN, T1X. LOCATION. Lat. 30°14'40", long. 97°41'20", at Montopolis bridge on U. S. Highway 290 at southeast edge of Austin, Travis County, 2.8 miles upstream from Walnut Creek, 3.8 miles downstream from Waller -Creek, 5 miles downstream from Barton Creek, and about 7 miles downstream f-om Austin Dam. Datum of gage is 407.3 feet above mean sea level, daturr of 1929. DRAINAGE ABBA. 38,160 square miles, of which about 11,800 squr.re miles is probably noncontributing. GAGE-HEIGHT BECQBD. Water-stage recorder graph. DISCHABGE RECORD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-metor measure ments. Gage heights used to half tenths between 3.1 and 5.2feet; hundredth® below and tenths above these limits. Discharge June 28, 29, July' 3, 5-10, obtained by shifting-control method. 42 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 MAXIMA. 1940: Discharge, 45,700 second-feet (partly regulated) 11 a. m June 30 (gage height, 17.44 feet). 1898-1939: Discharge, 481,000 second-feet June 15, 1935 (gage height, 45.0 feet, present site and datum, from floodmark). 1843-97: Stage, 46.0 feet, present site and datum, July 7, 1869 (discharge not determined) from information furnished by Prof. T. U. Taylor concerning gage at former site. REMARKS. Flow partly regulated by reservoirs upstream having a combined capacity of 1,180,000 acre-feet exclusive of Marshall Ford Reservoir, in which storage was begun Sept. 10, 1940. Rehabilitation of Austin Dam completed and power plant placed in operation April 1940 (reservoir capacity, 20,000 acre-feet). Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1940 Second- Acre- Second- Acre- Se^ond- Acre- Day feet feet Day feet feet Day f4et feet June July Con. July Con. 28...... 2,320 4,600 2 _____ . 20,600 40,860 7 ..-.... 4,000 7,930 29...... 2,980 5,910 3...... 10,200 20,230 8 3,910 7,760 30 28,100 65,740 4...... 18,000 35,700 9.. ... 3,330 6,600 5...... 7,200 14,280 10. 2,760 5,470 July 6...... 5,130 10,180 28,100 55,740 Bunofl, in acre-feet, for period June 28 to July 10_____ -______-______-_ 271,000 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Teet feet June 88 June SO Julys 1 a.m. .... 2.82 1,560 Continued la.m. _ . 13.6 31,600 4...... 3.03 1,820 7 a. m ..... 7.8 12,100 2. 13.3 30,500 8...... 3.20 2,090 8...... 11.6 24,400 3...... 12.2 28,700 10 3.15 2,020 9 15.6 38,900 4_ ...... 12.2 26,500 12m...... 3.01 1,820 10 -- 17.0 44,200 5 12.0 25,800 3.15 2.020 11 17.44 45,700 6... __ ... 11.6 24,400 2 ...... 3.40 2,380 12m...... J7.4 45, 700 7...... 11.3 23,300 3...... 3.65 2,680 17.0 44,200 S...... 11.1 22,600 4...... 3.75 2,910 2 . 16.5 42,300 9- . 10.9 22,000 6...... 4.10 3,400 3 ... _ . 15.9 40,000 10 ...... 11.0 22,300 7.... _ ... 4.25 3,650 4. ,., _ 15.3 '37, 800 11...... _ . 10.6 21,000 8...... 3.85 3,070 5.. ____ . 14.9 36,300 10.1 19,300 10 _ ... 3.25 2,160 6..-....-.., 14.7 35,600 . 9.8 18,400 12 ____ ... 3.85 2,990 8...... 14.4 34,500 3 9.5 17,400 12 1 13.9 32,600 5 9.0 15,800 7 . S.7 14,900 3.65 2,760 , Jutyl 8. 8.7 3 ___ ..... 3.35 2,300 la.m. _ , 13.4 30,800 10..T _ . 8.6 14,600 5...... 2.92 1,690 2...... 12.9 29,000 11 8.5 14,200 7.. _ ..... 2.54 1,220 4 _____ .. 12.5 27,600 12 . ___ . 8.4 13,900 11. ____ . 2.81 1,550 6 _____ .. 12.0 25,800 12m...... 3.15, 2,020 7...... 11.6 24,400 Juty 3 3.55 2,600 10...... 11.2 23,000 1 a. m ..... 7.8 12,400 4.10 3,480 12m ...... 11.0 22, 300 2_ 7.3 10,900 4..... _ .. C70 4,550 11.3 23.3QO 3...... 7.0 10,000 6 __'_- > 4.75 4,640 2 ____ .. 11.9 25,400 4 7.4 11,500 8 ... 4.75 4,640 3 - . 12.4 27,200 7 . 7.0 10,000 10 _____ .. 4.80 4,740 4...... 12.9 29,000 8 ...... 7.1 10,300 12...... 4.95 5,040 5.... _ ... 13.4 30,800 10 6.8 9,490 6...... 13.8 32,300 11 6.1 7,700 7...... 14.2 33,700 12m. ___ ,5.4 6,000 la. m ..... 5.05 5,040 8...... 14.3 34,100 ip. m. 5.15 5,350 3...... 5.3 5,560 9...... 14.1 33,400 2 ______5.20 5,560 5 _ ...... 5.6 6,230 10..... _ .. 13.9 32,600 4...... 5.6 6,470 6...... 5.8 6,710 12 __ ...... 13.7 31,900 6 __ -.. 6.2 7.-950 '43 FLOODS IK Ga$&-heigMy M f0$t, and discharge, in second-feet, tot indiettied ^ ' Second- Second- Becond- Hour , 'feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet - feet MgS- July S Julys , Continued la. m ..... 6.7 9,230 Conttansd 7,0 10,000 3... _ ...; 6.8 i Q 4Qft 4.W 4,360 7 . » 7.6 12,100 4.. _ . _ . 6.7 9,230 12 455 1 4,270 $... __. 8.0 13,000 5 .. 6.6 8,710 9 8,2 13.600 6 ...... 6.2 7,700 July7 10- ____ 8.5 15,2QO 7 _ ...... B.9 7,200 12m.l ..... 4.45 4,000 11.. __ .... 8.8 15,800 8 ...... 6.5 8,710 4.30 3,820 12 _____ 9.2 16,800 9 6.4 8,450 12. 4.40 3,910 10., 6.« 7,450 July 4 12m. _ . ... 5.6 6,470 July8 la. m ..... 9.6 17,700 1 p.m.... 6.5 6,230 7a.m..... 4,30 3,820 3.. _ ..... 10.0 19,000 2 __ r _ 5.6 6,470 &.... 4.60 - 4,270 5 ___ _«... 10.4 20,300 3 ...... 6.0 7,450 10. 4.45 4,090 ?. .... _ 10.6 21,000 4 ...... 5.9 7,200 12m.-- ... 4.36 3,820 8 10.8 ' 21,600 5 . 5.6 6,470 12^.01 __ 4.36 3,820 10..... __ . 10.9 22,000 i 6.4 5,780 11. _____ 10.9 22,000 9. _ 6.'15 5,350 July 9 12m.. __ 10.8 21,600 12 S.35 5,780 2 a. m ..... 4.30 3,820 10.5 20,600 4 ...... 3.86 3,070 2...... ' 10.0 19,000 July d 8- ... - 3.46 2,460 3.... _ ... 9.8 18,400 5.35 S.780 10 3.60 2,680 4 _ .... 9.4 17,100 7...... __ - 5.20 5,560 12m...... 4,20 3,650 5 : ...... 9.6 17,700 8...... 6.20 5,560 2p.m..*- 4.35 3,910 '6. .,._ . 9.4 17, 100 9 , 5.6 t>,470 7 ...... 4.30 . 3,820 7L 9.0 15,800 10- . .. 5.5 6,230 12-,.. r. 3.85 3,070 8 ., i 8.6, 14,600 11 .- 5.3 5,780 9 _ .... 8.0 12,700 12 m...... 5.10 5,350 July 10 10 7.4 10,000 5.00 5,140 6 a. m ..... 3.40 2,380 11' . 7.0 9,760 3 ..:... 4.86 4,740 12m. -,.- 3.65 2,760 12 6.8 9,230 7 ... 4.66 4,460 12 p. m .... 3.85 3,070 COLORADO RIVER AT SMITHVIL1E, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 30°01', long. 97°10', 1,200 feet upstream from 1 -idge on State Highway 71 at Smithville, Bastrop County, and 3.7 miles downstream from Alum Creek. Datum of gage is 270.14 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. DEAINAGE ABBA. 39,650 square miles, of which about 11,800 square miles is probably noncontributing. GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Water-stage recorder graph. , DISCHARGE BBCORD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measure ments up to 210;000 second-feet and extended to a slope-are"*, mesaurement at 305,000 second-feet. Gage heights used to half tenths between 3.8 and 5.8 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these limits. MAXIMA. ^1940: Discharge, 70,400 second-feet 1 a. m. July 1 (gage height, 21.24 feet). 1930-39: Discharge, 305,000 second-feet June 16, 1935 (gage height, 42.5 feet, from floodmark). 1870-1929: Stage, about 47.4 feet Dec. 4, 1913, according to information furnished by local residents (discharge not determined). KEMARKS, Flow during flood period under study only slightly affected by reservoirs- upstream. 44 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1940 Second- Acre- Second- Acre- Seeord- Acre- Day feet feet Day feet feet Day feet feet June July Con. July Con. 28 2,880 s, no 2...... 25, 100 49,790 7 ... - 6,170 12,240 29...... 4,370 8,670 3 - 17,400 34,510 8- 4,P«0 9,880 30 44,000 87,270 4 ...... 12,600 24,990 9 4,500 s osn 5 15,600 30,940 10 3,f«0 7,890 6 8,040 15,950 46,900 93,020 Runoff, in acre-feet, for period June 28 to July 10 ______-______389,800 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated tim*, 1940 Second- Second- Second, Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Fee* feet June 88 July 1 July 5 1 a. m._ 5.10 3,560 Continued 3 a. m ..... 11.7 19,000 12m 4.60 2,810 16.6 59,600 4 .... 11.7 19,000 A on 2,420 4 ..... 15.7 34,500 6 ...... 11.6 18,800 6 14.8 30,300 9 ..... 11.2 17,700 8 ..... - 14.2 27,600 12m-.. . 10.7 16,300 4.40 2,550 10 13.7 25,600 3 p. m _ .. 10.1 14,700 12 m_ 4.70 2,940 12 13.2 23,600 6 ...... 9.4 12,900 A QA 3 94A 9 ...... 8.8 11,400 5.20 3,730 12 8.4 10,400 5 .... 6.0 5,170 13.0 22,900 6....-...-. 7.0 7,210 6 13.2 23,600 July 6 8 _ 7.4 8,070 9 13.8 26,000 6 a. m _ .. 7.7 8,760 10 _ ... 7.8 8,990 12 m_ . 14.1 27,200 12m...... 7.3 7,840 12 _ .. 8.0 9,450 14.2 27,600 6 p. m. .... 7.0 7,210 4 ...... 14.1 27,200 12 6.8 6,790 6...... 13.9 26,400 9 .. 13.4 24,400 July 7 8.4 10,400 6,170 11, 100 12 12.8 22,300 12m...... 6.5 4...... 9.2 12,400 12 p. m 6.1 5,370 5 9.7 13,600 12.4 «lj -lUU 6 _ 10.5 15,800 12m...... 5.8 4,790 7 ..... 11.7 19,000 6 ..-.. 11.9 19,600 lOj £nJ\J 5.7 8 13.0 22,900 11.4 9 . __ .. 15.0 31,200 12m.-...- 10.9 16,900 10 _ . ___ 17.3 43,800 10.4 15,500 eo QflA 9 ..... 10.0 14,400 12m 5.70 4,600 11 IS 7 5.60 4,410 12m ___ . 19.7 59,900 12 ... 9.6 13,400 1 p. m _ .. 20.0 62,000 July 4 July 10 20.2 63,400 9.1 12,100 o« you 8 ____ ... 20.6 66,200 5.20 3,730 10 ...... 21.0 69,000 6 8.5 10,600 10 1 12m.. .. 5.20 i Tin 12...... 21.2 70,400 10 . 8.0 9,450 6 p. m. . 5.40 4,070 11 ...... 8.0 '9,450 12...... 5.35 3,980 July 1 8.1 9,68» 1 a. m___ ._ 21.24 70,400 2p.m. .... 8.6 10,900 4 _ ...... 20.9 68,300 4 9.4 12,900 6... _ 20.4 64,800 6 ... 10.1 14,700 8 ___ ..... 19.6 59,200 8 ..... 10.7 16,300 10...... 18.6 52,200 10. .,. ... 11.2 17,700 > 12m. _ ... 17.5 45,000 12 11.5 18,500 COLORADO RIVER AT IA GRANGE, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 29°53'45", long. 96°52'15", at bridge on U. S. HigJ way 77 in La Grange, Fayette County, 1.2 miles downstream from Buckner Creek. Datum of gage is 211.23 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. DKAINAGE AREA. 40,200 square miles, of which about 11,800 square miles is probably noncontributing. GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Graph drawn on basis of two or more wire-weight gage readings daily, including observation of crest gage height. JUNE-JULY M/OODS IN SOUTH-CENTEAL TBXAf DISCHABGE BEGOBB. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measure ments up^ to 200,000 second-feet and extended above. Gage he^hts used to half tenths between 2.5 and 4.4 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these limits. - Discharge, July 3-10 obtained by shifting-control method. MAXIMA. 1940: Discharge, 182,000 second-feet 8:20 p. m. June 30 (gage height, 4048 feet). July-August, 1938, November 1938 to Septenlber 1939: Ifscharge ob served, 15,900 second-feet July 17, 1939 (gage height, 10.27 feet). 1869-1938: Stage, about 56.7 feet July 9, 1869, from marble high-water marker in La Grange (discharge not determined). Flood of Dec. 5, 1913, reached a stage of 56.4 feet, from floodmarks. A stage of 50.84 feet, from floodmark, was reached June 17, 193 5 (discharge, 255,000 second-feet). The flood of July 27, 1938, reached a stage of 42.95 feet (discharge, 200,000 second-feet). KEMARKS. Flow during flood period under study only slightly affected by reser voirs upstream. Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 19AO Second- Awe- Second- Acre- Second- Acre- Day -feet feet Day feet feet .Day f-vst feet June July Con. July Con. 28...... 3,470 6,880 2...... 31,900 63,270 8.. _ . .... 5,370 10,650 29... ___ . 9,120 18,090 3...... 24,900 49,390 9 _____ 4,640 9,200 30 ...... 124,000 246,000 4...... 14,400 28,560 10 _ . 4,380 8,690 5...... 17,600 34,910 ' 6 ...... 10,700 21,220 109,000 216,200 7 ...... 6,550 12,990 Runoff, in acre-feet, for period June 28 to July 10..___*...... 726,000 Gage-heigM, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet June K June SO July 1 2 a.m. _ . 3.80 3,470 Continued Continued ' 4 __ .... 3,90 3,630 20.6 52,500 8 a. m ... 33.0 132,000 6 ...... 3.90 3,630 6..... __ . 21.9 59,400 9.. ____ . 32,2 127,000 8...... 3.90 3,630 7... __ .. 23.7i 70,600 10 31,5 122,000 10...... 3.85 3,550 8.. .. 27.0 92,000 11 ____ ... 30.6 ' 116,000 12m... _ . 3.80 3,470 9...... 30.3 114,000 12m-.. _ . 29.9 111,000 3.70 3,320 10...... - 32.3 128,000 1 p. m __ ' J9.1 106,000 8 ...... 3.80 3,470 11 ...... 34.1 140,000 2 ...... 28.3 100,000 12... __ ... 4.05 3,870 12m-...... 35.5 149,000 3 27.5 95,200 June 2$ 38.7 157,000 4. _____ - 26.4 88,100 4.20 4, la) 2 ...... 37.7 164,000 5 ___ . .... 25.4 81,600 4 ... _ 4.4 4,460 3..... _ .. 38.3 169,000 6...... __ 24.4 75,100 .6 _____ .. 4.6 4,820* 4...... sas . 172,000 7 jn 23.5 69,200 8 ... _ 4.8 5,180 5 _ ...... 39.3 176,000 8 .. __ . 22.5 63,000 10- _ . _ . 5.1 5,750 6 _ __ . _ 39.7 178,000 9-,...... 21.5 57,200 12m...... 5.4 6,340 7...... 40.1 181,000 10 __ ...... 20.6 62,500 2 p. m ..... 5.8 7,150 8 40.15 182,000 11. _ ...... 19.8 48,600 O JttV\ 8:20 _ .... 40.18 182,000 12 __ ... 19.0 44,900 4 ..... 6.4 9...... 40.1 181,000 6 ___ . _ . 7.2 10,200 July t. 7 ...... 8.4 12,900 10...... 39.7 178,000 8 9.6 15,700 11 ...... 39.3 176,000 1 a. m. .... 18.3 42,000 10.9 12 ...;... 38.6 171,000 '2 ...... 17.5 38,900 9 ...... _ 18,800 3...... fft Q 36,600 10 12.1 21,700 July 1 4...... 16.5 35200 11 13.4 25,200 1 a. m .. 38.0 166,000 5 ...... M.2 34,100 12 ___ . .... 14.7 29,100 2...... 37.3 162,000 6...... 15.8 32,700 3...... 36.7 157,000 8.... _ ... 15.1 30,400 16.0 33,400 36.0 152,000 10....-....- 14.7 29,100 2 ...... 17.2 37,800 5.....,...: 35.2 147,000 12m.- 14.7 29,100 3__ 1&2 41,600 6 ...... 34.4 142,000 6 p. m 15.0 30,100 4 ____ ... 19.4 4fi 7flfi 7 .... 33.7 137,000 12.. _ ..... 14.8 29,500 763365 48 -4 46 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Con. Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet JulyS July 6 July 7 6 a. m. __ 14.4 27,900 Continued Continued 12m. __ . 13.7 25,400 10 p. m 11.0 17,600 12m-_._ 6.0 6,340 12.5 22,000 11 10.8 17,100 5.7 5,940 12.. _ ..... 11.4 19,000 12 10.3 15,900 12 5:6 5,750 July 4 July 6 JulyS 10.2 15,900 9.4 13,800 12m._ ..... 5.4 5,370 12m. 9.3 13.600 6...... 8.7 12,200 12 p. m .. 5.2 5,000 9.1 13,200 9 8.2 11,100 9.0 12,900 12m..- 7.8 10,200 July9 6...... 8.9 12,700 7.5 9,520 5.0 4,820 8. 9.0 12,900 6...... 7.2 8,860 4.9 4,640 12 __ ...... 9.3 13,600 9 ...... 6.9 8,200 12 __ ... 4.85 4,460 12. 6.7 7,780 July 6 July 10 12m..-. 11.7 19,200 July? 4.80 4,460 4 p. m ..... 11.8 19,500 6 a. m._ 6.4 7,150 4 p. m . 4.67 4,200 9.. __ ... 11.0 17,600 9...... 6.2 6,740 12...... 4.55 4.040 COIOEADO RIVER AT COLUMBUS, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 29°42'20", long. 96°32'05", at bridge on U. S. Highway 90 at eastern edge of Columbus, Colorado County, 340 feet. dowrstream from Texas and New Orleans R. R. bridge and 2.6 miles downstream from Cum mins Creek. Datum of gage is 155.52 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. DRAINAGE ABBA. 40,840 square miles, of which about 11,800 square miles is probably noncontributing. GAGE-HEIGHT BECOKD. Water-stage recorder graph. DISCHABGE BBCOBD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter meas urements. Gage heights used to half tenths between 3.3 and 5.5 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these limits. Discharge July 2-14 obtained by shifting-control method. MAXIMA. 1940: Discharge, 152,000 second-feet 12 m. to 2 p. m. July 1 (gage height, 36.2 feet). 1903-11; 1916-30; 1939: Discharge, 110,000 second-feet June 1, 1929 (gage height, 35.00 feet, present datum). 1869-1902; 1912-15; ,1931-38; Stage, 41.6 feet, present datum,, in July 1869 and Dec. 6, 1913, according to information furnished by a local resident (discharge not determined,; river divided each time and left Columbus on an island). Flood of June 18, 1935, reached an observed peak of 38.5 feet, present datum, furnished by U. S. Weather Bureau (discharge, 190,OOC second-feet, computed on basis of records for station near Eagle Lake, 23 miles down stream) ; flood of July 29, 1938, observed stage, 38.4 feet, present datum, furnished by U. S. Weather Bureau (discharge, 175,000 second-feet, computed on basis of records for station near Eagle Lake). REMABKS. Flow during flood period under study only slightly affected by reser voirs upstream. . *v;f*. \ : ^%;u^;--^r^'^. 1 . FLOODS IKT 47 Mecm discharge, in sec&nd-feet, and runofft in acre-fesl, 1940 "Second- Aere- Second- Acre- Second- Acre- Day , feet feet Day feet feet Day feet feet Junf July Con. July~- Con. 28 _ 1. 2,500 4,960 2- ___ -.... 70,900 140,600 8 .. .. 6,600 13,090 29. 4,130 8,190 3. _ .... 31,900 63,270 9 ...... 5,220 10,350 30 L ._ 64,000 126,900 4...... 21,900 43,440 10.. .. 4,660 9,240 5...... 17,800 35, 310' July 6...... 17,600 34,710 1 ...... 142,000 281,700 7. .... 9,260 18,370 Runoff, in acre-feet, for period June 28 to July 10..______.______790,100 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Second- Second- Second- Hour ' Feet feet Hour Feet feet HQUT Feet feet June 88 July 1 . Jkdy 4 la. m _ . 5.10 2,400 Continued 4 a. m _ .. 15.4 25,100 5.30 2,600 34.9 129,000 8- . _ - 14.7 23,700 5.10 2,400 4. . 35.1 132, OOP 12m._ 14.1 22,000 12 5.20 2,500 5...... 35.3 134,000 4 p. m ...._ 13.5 20,400 6 ...... 35.5 138,000 8 ... 12.9 18,700 7 35.7 142,000 12 _ . 12.3 16,800 5.40 - 2,700 8 35.8 144.00Q 6 ...... 5.7 3,030 9 35.9 146,000 9...... 5.9 3,250 10 .... 36.0 148,000 11.8 15,300 12m_... _ 6.1 3,470 12m 36.2 152,000 6 , ,,, 11.6 .,14,600 6.4 3,810 36 2 IKO nnn 9...... 11.8 15,300 5...... 6.5 3,930 5 36.1 150,000 12m... . 12.4 17,100 6...... 6.5 3,980 6 ...... 36.0 148,000 13.1 19,400 '7 ... 6.8 4,290 9 .... 35.7 142,000 6 13.6 21,000 8 _ . 7.3 4,920 12 ... 35.1 132,000 9...... 13.8 21,700 9 ...... 8.2 6,410 12 13.9 22,000 10 9.0 8,010 X 11 .. .. 9.6 9.450 34.5 124,000 July 6 12...... 10.0 10,500 4...... 34.0 115,000 3 a. m ..... is. 8 21,700 6 33.2 102,000 6...... 13.5 20,700 8...... OO 1 9...... 13.1 19,400 2a,m ..... 10-4 11,700 10 ...... 30.7 66,200 13 m ..... 12.6 17,700 3. 10.7 12,500 12m...... 29.2 56,700 3 p. m _ .. 12.0 15,900 4...... 11. & 16,200 28.2 52,200 6 . , 11.6 14,300 5...... 113 20,700 2 _ _ . 49,500 9 i _ .. 11.1 13,100 6,...... 14.7 25,400 3 26.3 46,800 12 10.7 12,000 7- ...... 16.3 31,300 4...... 25.4 45,600 8 .... 17.8 37,200 5__ ..... 24.6 44,000 >' 9 20.0 46,000 6 ...... 23.7 42,400 10.1 10,200 10 21.7 53,600 7...... 22.9 40,800 12 m.__ 9.7 9,210 11.. .. 23.7 62.600 8...... 22.2 39,600 8p.m _ .. 9.2 8,010 12m.... 25.8' 72,000 9...... 39,200 12 8.9 7,380 1 p. m ..... 27.2 79,000 10 ...... 21.2 38,400 2 28.2 ' 84,000 11...... 9ft & 37,600 3___ ...... 29.1 88,500 12 ...... 20.5 36,860 8.8 7,170 4 . 90 7 91,«X> 9. ... 8.6 6,790 5.--.-..... 30.4 95,000 8.3 6.220 6 ...... 31.2 99,100 20.2 35,600 9.....: .... 8.1 5,860 7... .. 31. ft 101,000, 2...... 20.1 35; 660 12.. __ . 8.0 ' 5,690 8 32.1 104,000 4 .... 19.8 34,400 9 . 32.6 107,000 6...... 19.5 34,000 10 .. 33. t 110,000 8 .... 19.2 33,600 12m.. _ ,. 7.6- 5,220 11 _ ...... 33.6 114^000 10...... 18.9 32,900 7.4 ' 4,790 12 34.0 118,000 12 m_. _ . 18.6 32,580- 3 p. m ..... 18.1 31,300 Jutly 10 6.... _ ... 17.5 29,800 12m... 7.3 4.660 la.,m ..... 34.3 121,000 9. .... 16.8 28,000 12p.m. .... 7.1 ,4,530 2.,...... 34.6 125,000 12 .... 16.2 26,900 48 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 COLORADO RIVER AT WHARTON, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 29°18'>30", long. 96°06'15", at bridge on U. S. Higjivay 96 in Wharton, Wharton County, 1,000 feet downstream from Texas and New Orleans R. R. bridge and 12 miles upstream from Jones Creek. Datum of gage is 65.42 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. DRAINAGE AREA. il,150 square miles, of which about 11,800 square miles is probably noncontributing. GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. From graph drawn on basis of two or more wi~e-weight gage readings daily, including observation of crest gage height. Gage read frequently July 1-4. DISCHARGE RECORD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measure ments up to 145,000 second-feet. Gage heights used to half tenthr between 1.8 and 3.4 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these limits, recharge, June 28-30, July 4-10, obtained by shifting-control method. MAXIMA. 1940: Discharge, 100,000 second-feet 4 a. m. July 3 (gag^ height, 35.99 feet). 1919-25; 1938-39: Stage, about 35.6 feet, present datum, May 6, 1922 (discharge not determined). 1869-1918; 1926-37: Stage, 38.9 feet, present datum, Dec. 8, 1913, accord ing to information furnished by local residents (discharge not determined). Flood of July 12, 1869, reached approximately same stage. Flood of June 20, 1935, reached a stage of 38.2 feet, present datum (dis charge, 159,000 second-feet). Flood of July 30,- 1938, reached a stage of 37.4 feet, present datum (discharge, 145,000 second-feet). REMARKS. Flood flow affected by natural storage in wide flood plair. Below Wharton during flood of Dec. 8, 1913, the floodwaters combined with those of Brazos River. Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1940 Second- Acre- Second- Acre- Second- Acre- Day feet feet Day feet feet Day feet feet June July Con. July Con. 28 ...... 3,120 6,190 2 ...... 77,300 153,300 8 8,300 16,460 29 2,520 5,000 3 ...... 90,600 179, 700 9...... 6.20P 12,300 30 11, 100 22,020 4. . 45,100 89,450 10- 5,050 IS, 020 6 . 18,200 86,100 6 .... 17,100 33,920 49,600 98,380 7 13,200 26..180 Runoff, in acre-feet, for period Jane 28 to July 10______689,080 JUNE-JULY FLOODS IN SOUTH-CflTFRAL TEXAS 49 v . - ' Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indic Second- Second- Second- Boor Feet feet Hour ' Feet feet Hour Feet feet June 28 July 1 Con. JulyS 4.8 3,370 10 ...... 28.8 57,900 3a.m ..... 18.8 23,100 12m... 4.6 3,120 12 29.3 59,500 6 .... : 17 ft 21,000 A t 2,860 fl...... 17.1 19,300 12...... 4.1 2,780 12 in 16.4 17,900 3 a. m ..... 30.1 62,000 3 p. m _ .. 15.6, 16,400 6- 31.0 65,200 6 _ 14.9 15,200 4.0 2,690 » ...__ 32.4 71,700 «...... _ . 14.3 13,900 9 3.7 2,440 12m.. 33.4 77,400 12 14.3 13,900 12 p. m _ .. 4.0 2,690 3 p. m ..... 34.2 82,400 6 34.8 87.200 July6 9 .... 35.4 93,100 14.5 15,000 12m...... 4.6 3,120 12 35.9 98,800 6 15.0 16,400 5.6 -3,980 12 m_...... 15.7 18,400 2_...... 7.2 5,580 15.7 18,400 3 9.3 a 4.0H QC QQ 100,000 6 _ - 15.7 18,400 4...... 12.0 13,500 6. .... 35.9 98,800 9 ...... 15.3 ' 17, 700 5 _ . ___ . 13.5 16,700 9 __ . 35.7 96,400 12 14.8 16,700 6-,...... 15.0 19,900 12 m..:.... 35.5 94,200 7 ...... 16.6 23,600 89,000 July 7 8 ...... 17.9 26,800 6 34.5 84,700 13.9 15,000 9...... 19.1 30,000 9 _____ . 33.6 78,600 12m..._ 13.1 13,300 10 ...... 19.8 31,900 12...... 32.5 72 200 12.2 11,400 11...... _ . 2i0.5 33,900 i*> 11.4 9,880 12...... 21.3 36,100 July 4 2 a. m ..... 31.6 66,800 JulyS Julyl 4...... 30.6 61,700 12m... 10.4 8,170 22.4 38,900 6...... 29,6 57, 300 'r 9.6 6,980. 4...... 23.4 41,800 8 ... . 28.5 52,800 6...... 24.2 44,100 10 27.4 49,200 8...... 25.1 46,800 12m...... 26.0 43,200 12m_ _ 8.9 6,180 10...... 25.8 48,900 24 7 38,900 8.3 5,470 12m. _ ... 26.4 50,700 23.5 35,000 27.0 52,500 6...... 22.5 32,200 27.4 53,700 8- ...... 91 i 29,100 7.9 5,050 6 ...... 27.9 55,200 10 20.5 27,100 7.7 4,850 8 28.3 56,400 12 ...... 19.7 25,000 COLORADO RIVER NEAR BAY CITY, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 28°59', long. 96°, at bridge on State Highway 35 500 feet down stream from Texas and New Orleans R. R. bridge and 2 mil^s west of Bay City, Matagorda County. Datum of gage is 30.60 feet below mean sea level. DRAINAGE ABEA. 41,420 square miles, of which about 11,800 square miles is probably noncontributing. GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Graph drawn on basis of frequent tap? readings, by engineers? of distance-of, watetf surface betow reference mark,., mchiding observation of flood crest. DISCHARGE RECORD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measure ments. Gage heights used to tenths of a foot. 'MAXIMA. 1940: Discharge, 83,300 second-feet 9 a. m. July 4 (gage height, 78.8 feet). REMARKS. Flood flow affected by natural storage in wide flood plain. Records furnished by Corps-of Engineers, XJ. S. Army. 50 TEXAS FLOODS OP 1940 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at -indicated time, 1940 ' Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet JulyS July 4 Coo. Jvly5 Con. 76.2 60,700 4...... 78.2 76,700 12m- 68.2 33,300 76.5' ' 62,500 5- __ . 78.0 74,500 67.6 31,700 8...... _ . 76.7 63,800 6...... 77.8 72,700 2 ...... 67.2 30,600 10.... __ .. 76.9 65,200 7 77.6 70,900 3 66.7 29,300 12 - 77.0 RK QflA 8 77.1 66,700 4 ...... 66.3 28,300 9 ...... 76.6 63,100 5 ...... 65.9 27,200 10 76.1 60,100 6 ... 65.5 26,200 77.2 67,500 11 75.5 57,200 7 ...... 65.2 25,500 6 77.4 69,100 12 75.0 55,000 8 .... 64.9 24,800 9. _____ 77.4 1 69, 100 9 ...... 64.5 23,800 77.6 7A ofift 10 - 64.2 23,000 77.7 74.5 52,800 11 63.9 22,200 6 ______78.0 74,500 2 ... 73.9 50,400 12 _ ... 63.6 21,500 9 78.2 76,700 3 ..... 73.4 48,400 12. __ ..... 78.3 77,800 4 ...... 72.8 46,400 Julys 5 - 72.3 44,700 63.3 20,800 6- _ 71.7 43,000 2 .- _ .. 63.-0 20,000 78.5 80,000 7 71.1 41,300 3 ...... 62.8 19,500 6... __ ... . 78.6 01 1AA 70.5 39,600 4 . 62.5 18,800 9.. __ ... 78.8 69.9 37,900 5 . 62.3 18,200 12m.-. __ 78.7 82,200 10 69.3 36,300 6 ...... 62.1 17,800 2 p.m.. _ 78.4 78,900 11 68.7 34,700 12m... 62.2 18,000 DRY CREEK AT BUESCHER LAKE HEAR SMITHVILLE, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 30°03', long. 97°09', at Buescher Lake in Bastrop -Buescher State Park 1.9 miles upstream from mouth and 2.2 miles north of Tmithville, Bastrop County. Datum of gage is 327.9 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. DRAINAGE AREA. 1.48 square miles (measured at Buescher Lake spill ^»ay). GAQE-HEIGHT RECORD. Graph from water-stage recorder 200 feet upstream from dam. DISCHARGE RECORD. Represents inflow to Buescher Lake. Discharge figures for stages below 22.27 feet (minimum elevation of spillway crest) obtained from rate of change in contents of reservoir, using gage heights to hundr^dths of a foot. Discharge figures for stages above 22.27 feet were obtained from rating Curve for spillway based on the formula (?=3.09LH3/2 (using gage heights to hundredths below 24.3 feet, half tenths above) and adjusted fir r,ate of change in contents in reservoir. MAXIMA. 1940: Discharge, 1,870 second-feet 8:45 a. m. June 80; gate height, 24.96 feet 9 a. m. June 30. , ' REMARKS. Capacity of reservoir, 255 acre-feet at spillway crest. Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1940 Second, Acre- Second- Acre- Secoo-t- Acre- Day feet feet Day , feet ' feet Day feefr / feet I ' June 29 .... 64 127 June 30. _ 383 760 July 1 ..... s,o 4 Total. - 891 JtFNTS- JtTLY ' FLOODS IN" SOUTH-OETOUL T®3tAS 51 , in secon&feet, at indicated tims, , Second* Second- Secood- Second- Hoar feet Hour feet Hour feet ' H01T feet June m Jane %9~ Con. June 80 -Con. Jme SO~Con. 12m.., _ 0 73 1,250 10:30 a. m 735 ' '22 11- 77 5:45 1,290 ll __...... 493 2. ___ . _ 11:30 . 81 6 ___ ...... 1,190 11:30-'. __ 266 3. __T. 33 12- . ... 61 6:15 1,030 1230 p. m-_. 75 3:30... _ ... 92 6:30 1,010 1 _ 68 4. ___ .... 690 6:45 1,080 1:30 54 4:15 782 52 , 7- 1,080 2-..1 _ 46 4:30 ...... 710 1_ ___ _ ... 76 7:15.. _ .... 1,380 3- ...... 35 5.- ...... 178 1:30 139 7:30 . 1,340 4 ____ .... 27 5:30 ... 91 1:45 142 7:45 . 1,280 6- ,. 21 6...... __ . 61 2. 101 8.-- ., 1,280 6...... 18 6:30 __ -L.J 37 2:30 ... *.. 90 8:15 1,270 8 ___ ... _ 13 7...... 25 3 ___ ._.. .. 161 8:30-- 1,540 10. .._._. 7 7:30..,-.-. 248 3:30 ... 304 8:45 1,870 12...... 4 7:45 315 4.-..:. . 369 9. 1,800 8 .... . 270 4:30...... 634 9:15 1,590 J&ll'l 8:30 114 4:46.. . 1,100 9*30 1,360 2 9 ...... 75 5:00 1,230 9:45 1,160 12m. .1 1 9:30. _ ..... 66 5:16 1,300 10:00 998 0 10.... _ .... 67 /.. , I^AVACA RIVER BASIN IATACA RIVER AT HAIIETTSVELLE, TEX. LOCATION,-1 Lat. 29d26', long. 96°57', at bridge on U. S. Highway 77 in Hallets- ville, Lavaca County, 0.4 mile upstream from Texas and New Orleans R. R. bridge. Datum of gage is 186.7 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. DRAINAGE ABBA. 101 square miles. GAGE-HEIGHT BECORD. Water-stage recorder graph June 28-30, ard July 6-10. Graph for June 30 to July 5 drawn on basis of partial water-sf.age recorder 1 graph and gage heights obtained by levels to stakes .set at vrater surface during flood, and floodmark. v DISCHARGE BECOBD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measure ments up to 25,000 second-feet and extended to slope-area measurement for crest gage height. Gage heights used to half tenths betweep 7.2 and 8.4 feet June 28-30 and between 7.2 and 11.2 feet July 1-10; hundredths below and tenths, above these limits. Discharge obtained by sh'fting-coatrol method. MAXIMA. 1940: Discharge, 93,100 second-feet, 8 a. m. June,30 (gage height, 40.80 feet). This is the highest flood known. July to September 1939: Discharge, 3,980 second-feet July 12 (gage height, 21.50 feet, from graph based on gage readings). 1870-1938: Discharge, 28,300 second-feet July 16, 1936 (gagn height, 3(2.8 feet). REMARKS. ;Flow not affected by artificial storage or diversions. 52 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1940 Second- Acre- Second- Acre' Second- Acre- Day feet feet Day feet feet Day - feet feet June July Con. July Con. 28..-. __ 0.8 1.6 215 426 16 32 29-. __ ... 1,690 3,350 3...... 1,170 2,320 9...... 15 30 30 33,500 66,450 4...... 218 432 10...... 14 38 5...... 33 65 July 6..... _ .. 20 40 I...... 241 478 7 18 36 Eunoff, in acre-feet, for period June 28 to July 10______- 73t 690 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time,'1940 Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet June && June SO July 8 12m..- . 4.65 0.8 12 p. m ..... 4.65 .8 10 p. m..... 20.8 3,520 7p. m.. ... 116 1,030 11-. - . 19.0 2,440 8 ___ ..... 15.2 1,170 June 89 12...... 17.2 1,820 9. _ ...... 15.2 1,170 4.65 .8 10.. .. 11.7 1,050 5...... 5.10 4.7 Julyl 12...... H.7 850 6.. ... 6.00 32. 15.4 1,270 7... ___ . 5.70 19 2 _ . .. 13.7 890 8. . __ . 8.00 175 3...... 11.5 472 13.2 753 9 ...... 12.0 590 4... . . 10.7 352 2. _ .. . 12.6 643 10 ___ .... 18.0 1,980 5...... 10.2 280 3... _ .... 12.0 540 11...... 22.0 4,280 6. 9.8 230 4...... 11.6 472 12m._ 22.7 4,980 8...... 9.2 162 5..... _ .. 11.0 368 22.1 4,280 10...... 8.8 114 6 ...... 115 294 21.6 3,680 12m ...... 8.4 90 7 .... n.o 230 3 ...... 21.2 3,360 8.0 70 8...... 9.6 180 4...... 20.8 3,080 6- . ... 7.7 58 9. __ .... 9.3 153 5 _ ...... 20.2 2,740 9 .... __ 7.5 51 10. ____ . 9.0 128 6 ...... 19.5 2,400 12.. _ ..... 7.4 48 12m...... 8.7 107 7 __ ...... 18.6 2,120 4 p. m ..... 8.2 80 8. __ ..... 17.7 1,880 8 .... . 7.8 62 9 ...... 16.5 1,520 12m...... 7.4 48 12 . __ - 7.5 51 10. . 15.2 1,170 6 p. m ..... 7.4 48 11. _ - ___ 17.2 1,730 7 ...... 8.2 80 12 .... 21.0 3,360 8...... 10.0 235 7.2 41 9...... 11.7 489 12m.. 6.85 32 10...... 13.2 753 6.65 26 24.6 7,400 11 16.6 1,550 12 ...... 6.50 22 2 ...... 28.4 14,500 12.... _ ... 18.7 2,220 3. ____ 30.7 20.70& July 6 4, _ ...... 32.5 27,100 JulyS 12m...... 6.38 19 5 ... 34.8 38,800 19.0 2,320 6.36 19 6...... 37.1 54,800 2.... 18.6 2,180 7 ... . 39. -5 79,000' 3. . . 18.0 1,980 TMtakM- 8 ...... 40.6 QQ inn 4...... 17.5 1,820 12TH-. _ 6.33 18 8:20...... 40.6 83,100 5...... 17.0 1,670 6.29 17 9...... 40.4 90,300 6...... 16.5 ' 1, 520 10 ____ ... 39.4 77 800 15.9 1,360 JulyS 11 ...... 38.1 64,000 8 ...... 15.4 1,220 12m.. 6.27 16 12m.. __ 36.9 53,200 9,. .... 14.9 1,100 6.24 16 35.4 42,400 10 ___ ..... 14.4 990 2 ...... 340 34,000 11...... ia9 890 July 9 o 32.5 27,100 12m...... 13.4 791 12m.. ._ _ 6.22 15 I::::::: ::: 31.2 22,300 12.9 697 12 p. m __ 6.19 15 5 __ ... 29.3 16,800 2 ...... 12.4 608 6 ...... 27.7 12,900 3...... 11.8 506 July 10 7 .... 25.9 9,280 4 ...... 11.5 4S5 12m__ ..... 6.18 14 8 .. 24.0 6,980 5... ___ . 11.5 455 6.16 14 9 ...... 22.7 5,440 6...... 13.0 ' 715 JUNE-JULY FLOODS IN SOUTH-CENTRAL TEXAS 53 . IAYACA BITES'*EAR EDNA, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 28°58', long. 96°42', at bridge on IT. S. Highway 59 550 feet upstream from Texas and New Orleans R. R. bridge and 2,8 miles southwest of Edna, Jackson County. Datum of gage is 13.88 feet above mean sea level, datum qf 1929 (levels by Corps of Engineers, U. S. Armj*). DBAINAGE ABBA. 887 square miles. GAGE-HEIGHT BECOBD. Graph drawn on basis of two or more wire-weight gage readings daily, including reading at crest stage. DISCHABGE BEcoBD. -S;tage-discharge relation defined by cutrent-m^ter1 measure ments up to 72,000 second-feet. Gage heights used to half tenths between 2.5 and 3.3 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these limits. Discharge 9 a. rau July 3 to 8 p. m. July 5 was affected by backwater from return flow and was computed from backwater curve defined by current-mister measure ments. MAXIMA. 1940: Discharge, 73,000 second-feet 9:25 p. m. July 1 (gage height, 32.51 fcset). 1938-39: Discharge observed, 13,600 second-feet July 13, 1939 (gage height, 23.90 feet). 1909-37: Discharge, 83,400 second-feet May 25, 1936 (gage, height, 33,8 feet). REMABKS. Flow affected by natural storage in wide flood plain as indicated by backwater effect from return flow on falling stages. Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, Seeond- Acre- Second- Acre- Second- Acre- .Day feet feet Day feet feet -Day feet feet June July Con. July Con. 28,,...____. 22 44 2 ______JQ con 98,380 432 867 29..... __ . 18 36 3 ...... 13 Qrto 27, "570 8- ...... 340 674 30 ...... 2,300 4,560 4 5,680 11, 210 9...... 284 563 5 .-...- 2,450 4,860 10 _ - ...... 243 482 July 6...... 614 1,220 44,000 87,270 Runoff, In acre-feet, for period June 28 to July 10______237,700 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 - Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet June 88 June SO- JofyJ I a. m,__ 1.82 16 Continued C on turned 1 p. m. .... 1.90 22 12m. _ ... 12.0 1,920 6 a. m __ 23.2 11,800 12.8 2,210 7 _ ..1 .... 24.6 15,800 2 . __ .. 13.4 2,450 8...... 26.0 23,500 1.85 18 3...... 14.1 . 2,760 9...... 27.2 32,500 1.82 16 4...... 14.8. 3,100 10...... 28.4 41,500 6 ...... 1.82 16 5 15.4 3,400 11.. __ . ... 29.2 , 47,500 10 __ ...... 2.00 30 of. /OU 12m.-.. ... *tf* V 52,800 12. _ ...... 2.22 48 7__ ..... 16.8 4,130 1 p. m..... 30; 4 56,500 O-.__,______17.4 4,530 2 __ . _ . &L»v 9 ___ . 18.1 5,080 3...... 31.4 64,200 June SO 10 ...... 18.7 5,560 4 _ ... _ . 31.8 67,400 2 a. m ..... 2.65 88 11 _ -._ ___ 19.3 6,100 5...... 32.2 70,600 4. __ . _ 3.6 * 204' 1O _9Q O 6,800, 6 ...... ;82,3 71,400 5-..-. ,' 4.5 326 7 ____ .. 32.4 72.2QO 6 ...... 5.4 464 Julyl 8...... 32.5 TST&W 7 __ .... . 6.5 650 20. 5 7 400 32.5 73,000 8 ...... , 7.7 S66 2...... 7,880 9:25...... 32.51 73,000 9 . ^. 9.1 1,140 3...... 21.3 8,450 10...... 32.5 73,000 10 ...... 10.2- 1,390 4 . __ .. 21.8 0,200 11 ....._... 32.5 73,000 11 ...... 11.2 1,660 5 ...... 22.3 9.950 12...... 32.4 72,200 54 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Con. Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Fwt feet July H JulyS July 6 1 a. m ..... 32.2 70,600 Continued Continued 2 __ . _ .. 32.0 69,000 22.2 8,700 110 1,260 3... _ .... 31.8 67,400 8.. V- 22.0 . 8,300 5_...... 9.8 1,220 4...... 31.6 65,800 9. __ . .... 21.8 8,000 5:30.. .. 9.5 1,180 5 _ ...... 31.4 64,200 10 21.7 7,800 6. _ ...... 9.2 1,140 6...... 31.2 62,600 11 __ .. 21.6 7,600 7 ...... 8.8 1,070 7...... 30.9 60,200 19 21.4 7,300 8 ...... 8.5 1,010 8.... __ .. 30.7 58,800 9 ..... 8.2 960 9 _ ...... 30.4 56,500 July 4 10. .. _ . 7.9 902 10...... 30.1 54,200 21.2 7,000 11 . 7.6 848 11... _ .... 29.8 52,000 4...... 21.0 6,700 12 . 7.5 830 12m...... 29.5 49,800 6 20.8 6,300 29.2 47,500 8 20.6 6,000 July 6 2 ...... 28.8 44,500 10 20.4 5,700 7.4 812 3...... 28.6 43,000 12m.. 20.3 5,600 2 ...... 7.2 776 4.. __ .... 28.4 41,500 20.2 5,400 3 7.0 740 5 ...... 28.0 38,500 4 . 20.0 5,250 4. ... 6.9 722 6 __ ...... 27.8 37,000 6 ...... 20.0 5,200 5.. _ ..... 6.8 704 7 . ... 27.6 35,500 8 - 19.8 5,000 6 __ . 6.6 668 8...... 27.4 34,000 10 19.6 4,800 8 _ . 6.4 632 9. ___ ... 27.1 31,800 12 19.3 4,600 10 6.2 596 10..... __ . 26.9 30,200 12m.. 6.1 578 11. ___ .... 26.6 28,000 JulyS 2 p. m 6.0 560 12...... 26 4 26,500 2 a. m ..... 19.0 4,300 6 ...... 5.8 528 3 .... . 18.8 4,200 12 _ ... 5.6 496 Julys 4...... 18.6 4,000 26.2 25,000 5 ...... 18.4 3,900 July 7 2 _ ...... 26.0 23,500 6 18.1 3,700 5.4 464 3 _ .. __ . 25.8 22,100 7 17.8 3,500 12m. . 5.2 432 4...... 26.5 20,200 8 17.4 3,300 5.0 400 5.... __ .. 25.3 19,000 9 17.0 3,080 12 _ .. 4.9 385 6...... 26.0 17,500' 10 16.4 2,900 7...... 24.8 16,600 10:30...... 15.8 2,730 JulyS 8...... 24.6 15,800 11 . 15.4 2,600 12m-.. . 4.6 340 9.... __ .. 24.4 15,000 11:30-. 14.8 2,430 12 p. m ..... 4.4 312 10 ___ . ... 24.2 14,500 12m. 14.2 2,260 11. ___ . ... 24.0 13,700 13.6 2,090 12m 23.7 12,500 1 - 13.2 1,980 1 p. m ..... 23.5 i 12,000 1:30 12.6 1,820 12m.. 4.2 23 2 11,000 2 ..... 12.2 1,720 4.0 3 ___ .... 23.0 10,500 2:30.-- 11.7 1,600 4...... 22.8 10,000 3 11.2 1,480 July 10 5 ___ . ... 22.6 9,600 3:30...... 10.8 1,400 12m-....-. 3.9 243 6...... 22.4 9,100 4 ...... 10.4 1,330 12 p. m ..... 3.8 230 NAVTDAD RIVER NEAR GANADO, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 29°02', long. 96°33' at bridge on IX S. Highway 59 100 feet up stream from Texas and New Orleans R. R. bridge, & quarter of s mile down stream from Sandy Creek; and '2% miles southwest qf Gatiado, Jackson County. Datum of gage is 13.62 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929 (levels by Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army). DRAINAGE AREA. 1,116 square miles. ' GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Graph from two or more wire-weight gage readings daily and crest gage height obtained from floodmark. DISCHARGE RECORD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter meas urements up to 60,000 second-feet. Gage heights used to hah* tenths between 3.9 and 4.3 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these limits. Discharge 12 m. July 4 to 12 m. July 8 was affected by backwater from return flow and was computed from backwater curve defined by crrrent-meter measurements. MAXiMA.-^1940: Discharge, 64,500 second-feet 8:30 a. m. July £ and*o» Ndv. 26; gage height, 36.54 feet July 2, from floodmark. May to September 1039: Discharge, 9,440 second-feet July 13- 1939 (gage height, 27.21 feet). JUNE-JULY, FLOODS>IN 55 ' 1909-38; Discharge, 94,00ft lecoiHfcfeet May 27, 1936,(gag? height, 39.8 feet, according to information furnished by Texas awd New Orleans R. R. Co.). RBMA&KS. Flow affected by natural storage in wide flood' plain 'as indieated by backwater effect from return flow on falling stages, s Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1940 Second- Acre- Second- Acre- S "jond- Acre- Day feet feet Day feet feet .Day feet feet June July Con. July Con. 28 61? 131 2 53,300 103,700 7, _. 470 932 29.... ___ 40 97 3 ..., 24,600 48,600 8 ..... 340 674 30 724 1,440 4 v 9,980 19,800- 9 .. 242 5... 5,260 10,430 10 ' 186 369 July 6 1,140 2,260 1.. . _ 7,430 14,740 Runoff, ia acre-feet, for period June 28 to July 10______- 205,700 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 . Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet June 88 July S Julys 12 m __ . 4.20 62 ( 12p.m. 4.06 52 4 a. m_ .- 34.6 50,200 7 p. m 21.6 3,650 5 35.4 55,800 21.0 3,320 June £8 6 .... 36.0 60,500 9 r .4- - 20.4 3,020 12m-, 3.90 46 7. _ ...... 36.3 '62,900 10 10 7 2,740 12 p. m ... 3.85 40 8 36.5 64.500 11 _ . 19.1 2,520 8:30. 36.54 64,600 12 18.3 2,300 , June SO 9 ...... 36.5 64,500 I a. m ..... 3.85 40 10 36.4 63,700 July 6 9-...... 3.85 4fl 11 __ . 36.3 ff> orm 17. ft 2,120 12m. 4.40 73 12m . . ... 36.2 62,100 2 17.0 1,980 1 p. m_.L_. 5.2 139 36.0 60,500 3 16.4 1,840 2 6.8 364 2 ..... 35.8 58,900 4 15.9 1,720 3.. ___ ... 8.0 580 4 ...... 35 4 55,800 6...... 16.4 1,620 4 . __ 9.4 854 6 ...... 34.9 52,300 6- _ ..... 14.9 , 1, 5JO 5 10.7 1,130 8 .... . 34.4 , 48,800 7 14.4 1,400 6...... 11.8 ' 1,380 10 . 33.9 45,400 8 ...... 14.0 1,320 7 .. 13.0 1,670 12 33.4 42,100 13.6 1,260 8 14.0- 1,930 10 13.2 1,160 9 __ ...... 15.0' 2,200 11 12.8 1,100 10 ...... 15.9 2,450 32.8 38,300 12m... 12.4 1,020 ?ll u 16.7 2,690 4_ 32.3 35,300 1 p. m:.... 12.0 950 12.; 17.5 2,940 6...... 31.7 31,800 O 11.6 890 8 ...... 31.0 28,060 3r 11.2 830 Juiyl 10. _ ...... 30.5 , 25,500 4 _ 10.8 760 l a, m.. ... 18.2 3,200 12m 30.0 23,000 5 ...... 10.4 1 TOO 2 18.9 - &480 29.5 20,500 g -10. 0! 670 3 .... 19.5 3,720 29.1 18,600 7 9.7 640 4 ...... 20.1 4,000 6 28.9 17,800 ,"9.4 610 5. _ ...... 20.6 4,250 9. .... 28.3 15,000 9 ----- ~ 9.2 600 6 __ . 21.1 4,500 12 28.0 13,700 10 .,. 9.0 580 7 .... 21.5 4,720 11,.. _ .... 8.9 570 8L ...... 22,0 5,000 July 4 12 . 8.8 . 660 9 ____ ., 22.1, 6,060 27.5 11,700 1 10 .... 22.3 $,180 12m- 27.1 9,800 July 7 11- . _.... 22.6 5,380 26.8 9 f|rtn 8.4 530 12m...... 22 9 5,540 28.5 8,100 6 ...... 8 1 500 2 p. m ... : 23.4 5,840 61.... _ - 26.2 7,800 12m. 7/8 . 470 4 _____ .. 23.9 6,150 8 ...... 26.0 7 jinn 7.4 420 6...... 1 24.7 6,740 10 26.0 7,408 12 7.2 400 7 25.8 7,920 19 ' 25.9 7 200 8 OR 0 9 QflA JulyS 9 ...... 28.0 13^700 Jvly$ 12m. 6.7 fun 10 29.0 1O OfVI 25.7 6,920 6.4 9SW 11 ...... 30; Of 23,000 6 __ ...... 25.5 6,700 12 ...... 81.0 28,000 9 ...... 25.0 6,200 -.JtdjrS 12m. 24.3 5,600 12m.. 6.1 JulyS 2 p. m ..... 23.8 5,200 12 p. m - 5.9 212 l a. m __ 31.9 33,000 23.2 4,720 July JO 2.. _ . _ . 32.9 sSj.goo 5- _ . _ . oo ft 4,440 12m.,.. _ 5.7 186 3 ..... 33,7 1 44,000 6 : no Q 4 nan 5.6 176 56 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 GUAE&AUDFJEi RIVER BASIN GUADAIUPE BIVER ABOVE COMAI RIVER, AT NEW BRAUNFEIS, TEST, LOCATION. Lat. 29°42'55", long. 98°06'40", at New Braunfels, Coiral County, 1.1 miles upstream from Comal River. Datum of gage is 586.6 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. DRAINAGE ABBA. 1,666 square miles. GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Water-stage recorder graph. DISCHARGE RECORD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measure ments. Gage heights used to half tenths between 3.7 and 4.9 feet; hun- dredths below and tenths above these limits. Discharge obtained by shifting-control method. MAXIMA. July 1940: Discharge, 773 second-feet 5 p. m. July 4 (gage height, 2.77 feet). * 1927-39: Discharge, 101,000 second-feet June 15, 1935 (gfge height, 32.95 feet). 1869-1926: Stage, about 38 feet, July 1869 and December 191f (discharge not determined) according to information furnished by local residents. REMARKS. Flood flow not affected by regulaton or storage. Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1940 Second- Acre- Second- Acre- Seand- Acre- Day feet feet Day feet feet Day feet feet June July Con. July Con. 28. __ . _ 259 514 2 ______408 809 8 254 504 29 .... 280 555 3... __ 379 752 9...... 225 452 30 429 851 4- 520 1,030 10 215 426 5.... ___ . 529 1,050 6 ____ . ... 372 738 379 752 7- __ 299 593 Runoff, in acre-feet, for period June 28 to July 10. Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Second- Second- Second- Hoar Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feot feet June 28 JulyS Julyff 2.19 293 12m 9 QA 103 12m. _ ... 2.32 379 12m. _ ... 2.13 259 2.34 393 330 12 p. m... .. 2.09 238 JulyS July? June 89 12 m...... 2.33 386 12m. _ ... £.20 299 12m- .. ^2.10 244 2.36 408 12 p. m ..... £.16 275 4p.m.-... 2.10 244 6 ...... 2.36 408 JulyS 7- __ - 254 2.40 439 2.38 423 12m. _ ... £12 12 ___ 2.19 293 12m-.. 12 p. m ..... r.io 244 June SO 2 p. m. . 2.35 401 July 9 5. ___ . ... 2.77 773 12m- .... O CQ 12 2.68 683 220 12m___ .. 2.43 463 12 p. m .. 2.28 350 JulyS July 10 12m._ 2.51 529 12m...... r.os 211 July 1 12 p. m ..... 2.40 439 12p.m. . £.01 203 6 a. m ..... 2.23 318 12m. 2.38 423 12 p. m ..... 2.41 447 JUNE-JULY FLOODS IN SOUTH~CE$raBAJ- TEX..S 57 GUADALUPE RIVEB AT VIOTOBIA, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 28°47', long. 97°01', at bridge on U. S. Highway 59 in Victoria, Victoria County, 1,300 feet upstream from bridge of Texas anc1 New Orleans R. B,, and 10 miles upstream from Coleto Creek. Datum of gage is 29.23 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. DRAINAGE ABEA. 5,676 square miles. GAGE-HEIGHT BECOBD. Water-stage recorder graph. DISCHARGE BECOBD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-rreter measure ments.. Gage heights June 27 to July 4 used to half tenths between 2.8 and 4.4 feet; hundredths below 2.8 and between 29.0 and 30.4 feet; and tenths between 4.4 and 29.0 feet. Gage heights July 5-15 used to hal* tenths below 5.1 feet and tenths above. Discharge June 27-29, July 7-15 obtained by shifting-control method. MAXIMA. 1940: Discharge, 55,900 second-feet 3 a. m. July 3 (gage, height, 29.67 feet). 1934-39: Discharge, 179,000 second-feet July 3, 1936 (gage height, 31.22 feet). 1904-33: Discharge,. 79,000 second-feet June 1, 1929 (gage height, 29.9 feet). REMABKS. Flood flow not affected by regulation or artificial storage. Afeaw discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, Second- Acre- Second- Acre- S n June July Con. July Con. 27...... 1,170 2,320 2 ...... 39,800 78,640 9 . ... 1,610 ^ ion 28 1,200 2,380 3 51,000 101,200 10 . 1,440 2,860 29...... 1,010 2,000 4..;...... 32,500 64,460 11 1,330 2,640 30...... 6,770 13,430 5...... 22,000 43,640 12 1,100 2,180 6...... 8,180 16,220 13 1,100 2,180 7...... 2,520 5,000 14 1,200 2,380 22,300 44,230 8... _ .... 1,780 3,530 15 1,220 2,420 Runoff in acre-feet, for Reriod June 27 to July 15 _ _.._. ...._ . 395,200 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet June 27 June SO- July 1 12 p. m__ 5.5 1,140 Oontinued Continued 5 p. m_____ 24.3 11,600 4 p. m__ 28.6 23,400 6 ____ 25.0 12,100 6 - 28.7 04 Ann 5.2 1,040 T...... 25.6 12,600 8_ _ 28.8 25,'400 8 . 26.0 13,000 11. ____ . 28.9 26,400 9 ...... 26.5 13,800 12 29.0 27,400 5.3 1,070 10...... 26.8 14.400 11 27.1 15,300 12 27.3 15,900 1 a. m ..... 5.4 1,070 la. m...... 29.04 28,000 2... _ .... 5.& 1,100 2 29.08- . 28,800 8... . _ .. 5.5 1,100 4 29.18 30,600- 9. .. 5.6 1,140 27.5 16,700 6 ..... 29.25 32,800 10 7.7 1,820 2 __ ... _. 27.6 17,200 §i ___ . 29.31 35,000 1C:30_ .... 10.6 3,flOO 3.. 27.8 18,200 10 29.38 38,100 ll-_- ... _ 13.3 4,180 4 27.9 18,700 12m -- __ 29.42 40,100 11:30 ----- 15.2 5,300 5. _ .... 28.0 19,200 2 p. m _ .. 29.46 42,300 12 m_ 16.3 6,000 6 ... 28.1 19,800 4... ___ .. 29.49 44,000 19.3 8,060 8 ... .28.2 20,400 6 29.53 AR _ftf> -2... _ - , 21.4 9,530 10 ____ 28.3 21, 100 8 - 2».59 50,400 3 .... 22.7 10,400 12m_ .. 28.4 ,21,800 10... _ . .. 29.62 52,400 4 23.6 11,100 2 p. m .. 28.5 22.600 12. __ . .... 29.66 65,200 58 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Con. Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour F« feet JulyS July 6 July 10 2 a. m ..... 29.66 55,200 Continued 6a.m. .... 7.7 1,440 3 29.67 65,900 18.9 7,780 12p.m.. ... 7.7 1,440 4 . 29.66 5S.200 18.1 7,220 6...... 29.66 55,200 17.3 6,660 July 11 10.. _ .. 29.64 53,800 2 ..... 16.6 6,190 6 a. m ..... 7.7 1,440 12m- ... 29.61 51,700 3 ...... 16.0 5,800 12m- 7.5 1,370 29.59 50,400 4 .... 15.5 5,480 7.2 1,270 29.51 45,200 5 15.0 5,180 12 7.0 1,200 12. ___ ... 29.45 41,800 6...... 14.5 4,880 7...... - 14.1 4,640 July IS July 4 8 13.7 4,400 6 a. m __ . 6.9 1,160 29.38 00 lAn 9...... 13.4 4,240 12m. 6.6 1,070 8 ...... 29.31 35,000 10 13.0 4,020 6.5 1,030 12m. _ ... 29.22 31,700 11 ____ .. 12.7 3,860 12...... 6.7 1,100 4p.m. .... 29.10 29,000 12 12.4 3,690 8 .... 29.00 27,400 July IS 12..... __ . 28.9 26,400 July? 6 a. m . . 6.8 1,130 11.9 3,300 12m-. 6.6 1,070 JulyB 4. .. 11.4 3,040 6.5 1,030 3 a. m ..... 28.8 25,400 6...... 11.0 2,840 6 6.7 1,100 6 . 28.7 24,400 8 .... 10.7 2,690 9 ..... - 6.9 1,160 9...... 28.6 23,400 10 ...... 10.4 2,540 12. .... 6.9 1,160 12m- 28.5 22,600 12 m- 10.1 2,390 3 p. m.. 28.3 21; 100 3 p. m ..... 9.8 2,260 6 ...... 28.1 19,800 6 9.5 2,120 July 14 D. V 1,160 9 27.9 18,700 9 9.3 2,040 9 . __ - 7.3 1,300 10 27.7 17,700 12 9.1 1,960 1 p. m .. 7.3 1,300 11.... __ . 27.5 16,700 6 ____ .. 7.0 1,200 12. 15,900 JulyS 12 6.7 1,100 July 6 4 a. m_- ... 8.9 1,860 1 a. m ... 27.0 15,000 8 ..... 8.8 1,860 July 15 Ofi ft 12m- 8.7 1,780 A K 2 ...... 14,000 6 p. m _ .. 8.6 1,780 1,03ft 3 _ .. 26.1 13,100 Q A 10. _ ...... 6.3 975 4 _ ... 25.6 12,600 19 1,710 6.3 5. ___ 24.9 12,000 6.7 1,10° 6... _ .... 24.1 11,400 July 9 4 ...... 7.4 7 ..... 23 1 10,700 8.3 1,640 6 8.0 1^0 8 _ - 22.1 10,000 12m- 8.2 1,610 8 8.4 1,680 21.0 9,250 8.1 1,570 10 8.6 10. _ ...... 19.9 8,480 19 7 S 1,470 12. _ ...... 8.8 I's^n T) SAN MABCOS RIVER AT OTTIWE, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 29°36', long. 97°35', at highway bridge a quarter of a mile southwest of Ottine, Gonzales County, and 4 miles downstreair from Plum Creek. Datum of gage is 285.2 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. DEAINAGE AKEA. 1,249, square miles. GAGE-HEIGHT EECOED. Water-stage recorder graph. DISCHARGE EECOED. Stage-discharge relation defined by eurrent-me^er measure ments up to 12,000 second-feet and extended above on basis of ore slope-area measurement at 125,000 second-feet. Gage heights used to half tenths between 2.5 and 4.2 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these limits. Discharge June 29, July 5-10, obtained by shifting-control method, MAXIMA. 1940: Discharge, 20,000 second-feet 2 p. m. June 30 (gage height, 34.38 feet). 1916-39: Discharge, about 202,000 second-feet May 29, 1929 (gage height, 43.32 feet). 1913-14: Stage, about 44.0 feet in December 1913 (discharge not deter mined) according to information furnished by local residents. Large floods also occurred in 1869 and 1870, but stages are pot known. REMAEKS. Flood flow not affected by regulation or artificial storage. FLOODS IN SOTITH-dnSIRAL TSJ&kft . 59 11 11 Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-fez^ 1940 Sec0n June July Con. JWp Con, 28 132 262 2. _ ... 1,800 3,570 8, ...... 200 397 29 630 1,230 3 . 831 . 1,650 9 ...... 194 385 30 ...... 12,900 25,590 4...... 520 1,030 10 ...... 188 37$ 5. .. . 277 549 JvlV i 6...... 256 60S 10,900 21,620 T...... 221 438 ' Eunofl, in aere-feet, for period June 28 to July 10___v______- _ 57,550 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in seconds-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet JimtflS JwneSO ' July t a.m _ :. 2.34 16/ Continued Continued 6.. _ ..... ' 2.29 160 34.0 18,400 , 4.8 511 9 2.10 137 33. 8 17,700 8 4.4 1 447 11 1.72 97 8 33.7 17,400 9...... 5.5 623 1;54 81 10 33.5 16,800 10 - - 756 2.1 . ' 1.38 68 12.. 33.5 16,800 12 . 7.1 898 5 ... 1.84 109 7 .. 2,23 163 JulyS 12_ 2.32 164 33.5 16,800 '..2 916 3 33.3 16,200 6...... 6.6 808 5... . 32.9 15,200 10 - 6.1 722 2a. m 2.31 163 6 ... ' 32.5 14,200 6.6 808 3...... 2.33 165 7 32.1 13,400 7 7.1 898 5.. __ : 2.22 151 8 __ .. 31.7 12,800 12. 6.6 SOS ,6 2,44 181 9.... 31.2 12,200 7 _ .... 3.10 270 10... 30.7 11,600 8_ ...... 3.85 383 11. 30.2 11,000 5.8 , 671 9. _ .. 4.10 415 12 m...... 29.7 10,500 12 m-.. . 4.8 511 10...... 43 447 29 2 9,980 4.00 383 11 4.8 527 28.6 9,400 3.70 337 6.7 671 3...... 28.1 8,930 12 3.60 322 2. __ ._ 5.7 671 4 ...... 27.6 8,490 4...... 5.5 639 97 fl 7,980 6 5.5. 639 6...... 26.4 7,600 3.35 292 7 , 6.4 t 780 7... . 25.9 7,130 lam... 3.25 277 8.... _ ... '8.97.6 1,010 8 .... 25.3 6,720 12. p.m..... 3.15 256 9 1,260 9 ____ .. 24.6 6,280 10...... ^.. 10.6 1,580 10 23.8 5,810 July6 11. . 11.9 1,800 11 23.2 5,500 12m__ 3,10 256 12...... 13.2 2,180 12 22.4 5,120 2.95 . 235 7 . 3.15 263 June SJ JulyS 12 3.05 249 la. m. _ . 146 2,520 1 a. m ..... 21.5 4,720 2...... 1 16.0 2,900 .2...... 20.5 4,320 July? 3...... 17.4 3,310 3...... 10 i 3,950 12m ___ 2.80 914 4...... 18.8 3,760 4,.....,... 18.8 3,760 2.75 207 5 ...... 20.4 4,290 5 . . 17 Q $ 460 6 __ ...... 22il 4,980 6. 16.5 3' 040 JulyS 7...... 24.4 6,W» 7 14.4 2,470 12m. ~ 2.70 200 8 __ 28.2 9,020 8.. . . ._ 13.1 2,150 2.65 194 9...... 31.0 IXHQft . a_ ...... 11.6 July 9 ML -. 32.6 14,400 10 .... Ift^L 1,530 12mr __ 2.60 188 11. _ ... _ ut>. I 17,400 11 9.0 VffltT 12m.... _ 84.1 18,800 12m.., 7.8 1,020 tJJ^m 2.55 181 1 p. m..... 343 19,600 lp. m. 6.9 862 Jviylfr 2 ___ . _ 34.38 20,000 2i ... 6.0 705 12m...... 3fift L 188 4.. .. 343 19,600 8...... 5.4 R/V7 9 fift UHL 60 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 COIETO CREEK NEAR VICTORIA, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 28°43', long. 97°08', at bridge on U. S. Highway 59 100 feet upstream from Texas and New Orleans R. R. bridge, 1.1 miles downstream from Perdido Creek, and 9.4 miles southwest of Victoria, Victoria County. Datum of gage is 49.2 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. DRAINAGE AREA. 514 square miles. GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Water-stage recorder graph. DISCHARGE RECORD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-me*er measure ments. Gage heights used to half tenths between 2.7 and 4.6 feet; hun- dredths below and tenths above these limits. Discharge July 1-4, 6-10, obtained by shifting-control method. MAXIMA. June 1940: Discharge, 39,200 second-feet 4:15 p. m. June 30 (gage height, 22.05 feet). June to September 1939: Discharge, 6,760 second-feet July 12 (gage height, 11.40 feet). 1932-38: Stage, 27.2 feet July 1, 1936, at railroad bridge, based on in formation from railroad company (discharge not determined). REMARKS. Flood flow not affected by storage. Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1940 Second- Acre- Second- Acre- Second- Acre- Day feet feet Day feet feet Day feet feet June July Con. July Con. 28...... 7.1 14 2 . 416 825 7 ..... - 148 294 9O 17 34 3 ..-... 576 1,140 8 ... . 112 222 30. __ .. 18,600 36,890 4 1,240 2,460 9 87 173 5-..-.-.... 401 795 10 . 70 139 2,660 5,280 6-... .. 211 419 Runoff, in acre-feet, for period June 28 to July 10____.______..__... 48,680 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated, tim*, 1940 Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet June %8 June SO July 1 12m.. 0.60 6.6 Continued Continued 12 p. m _ .. .58 5.9 4 p. m _____ 22.0 39,200 3 p. m _____ 5.0 1,270 4:15-. . 22.05 39,200 4.8 1,220 5 ... 22.0 39,200 5 ______4.6 1,100 .58 5.9 6 ______21.4 36,600 6 _ . _ 4.40 995 12m .57 5.5 7 20.4 32,400 7-. _. 4.25 925 .57 5.5 8 19.1 27,100 8 ______4.15 880 10 .75 15 9 17.6 21,600 , 9 3.90 796 11 1.60 147 10 16.1 16,800 10 ______3.80 754 12 2.35 351 11 14.6 700 11 __ 3.70 714 12 .13.4 ' 100 12 _. 3.60 674 June SO S 1 a. m _____ 2.65 444 Julyl July 2 2... . . 2.75 476 1 a. m _____ 12.4 8,240 o. ou 3 8.0 3,300 2 11.4 6,760 4 ______10.2 5,400 10. 6 6.. ____ 3.15 509 5 __ . _____ 11.1 6,380 4 9.6 4,800 12m _.__ 2.85 428 £i. O_a _a<7O 6 11.2 6,500 5 8.9 4,020 2.50 7 _____ 11.3 6,620 6------__. 8.3 3,480 12 278 8 12.4 8,240 7 _____ 7.8 2,980 9 14.4 12,200 8 7.4 2,700 July S 10 16.0 16,500 9 7.0 2,440 . 2.60 306 11 17.6 21,600 10 6.6 2,100 6 ______2.59 303 12m __ 18.8 25,900 11 6.2 1,820 12m. -2.88 390 1 p. m _ _ 20.0 30, 700 12m. 5.9 1,670 6 p. m _ __ 3.30 526 2...... 20.8 34, 100 5.6 . 1,570 9. .. 5.0 1,270 3 ______21.6 37.400 2 5.3 1.420 12 6.1 1.820 JUNE-JULY FLOODS IN SOUTH-CENTI^AL TEXAS 61 'Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Con. Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour F«et feet July 4 July 5 JulyS 3 a< m __ 5.8 1,770 12m...... » 1.27 112 6...... 5.3 1,520 9 12 300 1 18 96 9...... 4.7 1,220 12...... 1 Q7 261 12m..__... 4.6- 1,170 6p.m_... 4.15 948 July 6 JulyS 19 3 40 634 12m. ;..._.__ 1.74 OAfl 12m.. __ 1.12 87 12 p. m ._.. rss 173 12 p. m __ 1.05 76 July 5 3 a. m __ 3.00 560 July 1 July 10 \ 6-..-.-.... 2.74 47& 12m...... 1.45 146 12m 1.00 70 12m __ ... 2.37 358 1.34 124 12 p. m __ .94 61 SAW ANTONIO RIVER AT GOLIAD, TEX. LocATioN.-r-Lat. 28°39', long. 97°23', at bridge on State Highway 29, 1.3 miles southeast of courthouse in Goliad, Goliad County, and 10 mf <^s upstream from Manalmilla Creek. Datum of gage is 91.1 feet above me'vu sea level, datum of 1929, Houston supplementary adjustment of 1943. ' DRAINAGE ABEA. 3,914 square miles. GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Water-stage recorder graph. DISCHARGE KECOKD. Stage-discharge relation defined by' current-meter measure ments. Gage heights used to half tenths between 3.7 and 4.8 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these limits. Shifting-control method used from 2 p. m. July 1 to July 10. MAXIMA. 1940: Discharge, 11,600 second-feet at 11 a. m., July 2 (gage height} 31.37 feet, present site). 1924-29, 1939: Discharge, 13,100 second-feet Jan. 11, 1929 (gage height, about 30.5 feet, present? site, from floodmark). 1913-23; 1930-38: Stage, about 45 feet, present site and datum, Oetobet 1913 andttune 15,1935, according to information furnished by local residents (discharge not determined). REMARKS. Plow at high stages affected by natural storage in wide flood plain. Mean discharge, in second-fed, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1940 Second- Acre- Second- Acre- Second* Acre*, Day feet feet Day feet . feet Day fiiet feet June July Con. July Con. 28-.. . 223 442 2 ...... 11,300 22,410 8 .... . 371 736 29.. __ ... 222 440 3...... 7,440 14,760 9 317 629 30 ...... 4,760 9,440 4 ...... 2,850 5,650 10, _ ...... 272 540 5 ...... 1,030 2,040 11...... 236 468 6 ...... 632 1,250 12 218 432 10,200 20,230 7 ...... 488 968 Runoff, in acre-feet,.for period June 28 to July 12.____ ...... _ 80,440 763365 48 5 62 TEXAS FLOODS OP 1940 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Second- Second, F-et Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour feet June 88 July 1 July 4 la. m _ - 3.55 227 Continued 2a.m..--- 21.1 4,280 2...... 3.53 223 28.2 9,280 4...... 19.9 3,580 6. __ ..... 3.52 222 6 28.4 9,430 6 18.8 2,930 11 3.54 225 7 ...... 28.7 9,660 8 17.6 2,900 12m.... 3.62 240 8 .... 29.0 9,880 10 16.7 2,930 3.53 223 9 ...... 29.2 10,000 12m. 15.9 2,760 12. 3.46 211 10 ' 29.4 10,200 15.1 2,560 11 29.6 10,400 4...... 14.4 2,450 12m...... 29.7 10,500 6- ..... 13.8 2,340 3.41 202 30.0 10 600 8 13.2 2,200 7 3.45 209 4.. .. 30.2 10, 800 10 12.5 2,010 8 3.46 211 6. _ ...... 30.4 11,000 12 11.7 1,830 12m...... 3.38 196 8 .... . 30.7 11,100 3.38 196 10 30.8 11,200 8 3.41 202 12 31.0 11,400 10.4 1,490 9 3.65 245 6. .... 9.2 1,230 10...... 4.10 326 9 8.2 1,010 11 4.30 362 July % 12m---. .. 7.5 881 12 4.60 416 3 a. m. .... 31.2 11,400 3 p. m. - 7.2 820 6 .... .-. 31.3 11,500 6 7.0 782 June SO 12 6.6 725 1a.m. 5.9 650 11...... 31.37 11,600 2 ...... 8.2 1,120 3 p. m ..... 31.3 11,400 July 6 3...... 10.6 1,700 6- . 31.2 11,000 12m- 6.0 632 4...... 12.5 2,200 9 - 30.8 10,400 5.6 542 5 ...... 14.3 2,700 11 30.5 9,880 6 ... 15.8 3,, 130 12 30.4 9,580 July 7 7 ..... 17.1 3,520 12m..- 5.2 488 8. 18.2 3,860 4.8 407 9 19.2 4,180 29.9 9,060 10...... 20.0 4,450 4.... _ ... 29.4 8,680 11 . 20.8 4,750 5- . 29.0 8,460 12m------4.55 371 12 m...... 21.4 5,000 6- .. 28.7 8,240 4.35 335 22.0 5,260 7-- ., 28.4 8,100 22.6 5,560 8 ...... 28.0 7,890 3.. ... 23.1 5,840 9 .... 27.7 7,750 12 m...... 4.20 317 4 23.6 6,130 10 27.3 7,540 12 p. m ..... 4.05 290 5...... 24.0 6,370 11 26.9 7,330 6...... 24.4 6,610 12m.... 26.6 '7,200 July 10 7...... 218 6,870 26.2 7,000 12m. 3.95 272 8.. ... 25.2 7,130 2 ...... 25.9 6,800 12 p. m _ . 3.81 250 9 25.6 7,400 3...... 25.6 6,610 10... 25.9 7,610 4 . 25.2 6,490 July 11 11 . 26.3 7,890 5 ...... 24.9 6,310 12m-. - 3.72 234 12 26.6 . 8,100 6 ...... 24.6 6,190 3.66 223 24.3 6,010 Julyl 8 ...... 24.0 5,780 July n 27.0 8,380 9 ...... 23.6 5,620 12m _ .... 3.63 218 2 '. 27.2 8,530 10 23.2 5,360 12 p. m ..... 3.61 214 3 27.6 8,830 11 22.8 5,090 4...... 27.9 9,060 12 22 1 4,720 NOVEMBER FLOODS IN THE SAN JACINTO RIVTIR BASIN A flood in the San Jacinto River Basin late in November covered the entire basin and broke known records at a number of places. The most outstanding part of the flood was in the lower reaches of the stream. At the stream-gaging station San Jacinto River near Huff man below the confluence of the East and West Forksr the stage was 51.2 feet, the highest ever known, and the peak discharge was 253,COO second-feet. The second highest known flood at this place occurred on May 31, 1929, and was about 1 foot lower than the flood of Novem ber 26, 1940. Reliable records concerning floods date back to 1876. At four other stream-gaging stations located on the main tributaries of San Jacinto River the stage that was reached was slightly higher NOVEMBER FLOODS IN SAN JACINTO'BASIN 63 than any previously known at two stations; it equaled the highest known at the third station; and was slightly less than the highest known at the fourth. Highways and railways were damaged greatly, and livestock valued at many thousands of dollars was drowned. No estimate of the total damage is available. Only a small part of the land within the basin is cultivated, and not much of this is within the flood plain. As crops had already been harvested, crop losses were very small. * The San Jacinto River Basin is located in the Coastal Plain area of Texas, is heavily forested, is cultivated to only a small extent, and has a low rolling topography varying in altitude above me^n sea level from about 50 to 350 feet. In general, the topsoil is a fine sandy loam, and the subsoil varies in texture from friable to dense.5 The friable subsoil predominates in the basin of the East Fork, whereas the dense subsoil is more generally found in the basin of the West Fork. The average annual rainfall is about 45 inches. The low-water channels are invariably small, and the flood plains are usually wide and heavily forested. Owing to flat gradients, streams rise and recede slowly, in contrast to the flashy rises of streams in the central and western parts of the State. Velocities are moderate, and erosion is not a serious, problem. A map of the San Jacinto River Basin is shown in figure 9. METEOROLOGIC CONDITIONS The following discussion by Ferguson 6 describes the meteorologic conditions during the storm period:7 On November 21, 1940, at 7:30 a. m., eastern standard time, a cold front extended from a low center of 1,005.4 millibars (29.69 inches) in Iowa, through western Arkansas, then southwest ward to near Laredo, Tex., becoming quasi- stationary in the interior of southeast Texas. Warm, moist air f~om the Gulf was to the south of the front, and cool, moist air was to the north. An elongated, high-pressure area of about 1029.0 mb. (30.38 inches), composed of dry, cold air, which was changing into moist, cold air, dominated the section east of the Missis sippi, centered in the Middle Atlantic States and extending south to the east Gulf. A weak, high-pressure ridge of approximately 1,016.5 mb." (30.04 inches) extended through central Texas to New Mexico. A secondary, active cold front extended from South Dakota west-southwestward through Utah with relatively moist, cold air over the Northwest United States, with a high-pressure ridge extending from central Canada west-southwestward to the northern California 5 The soils of Texas, Texas Agr. Exper. Sta. Bull. 431, July 1931. 6 Ferguson, J. EL, The meteorological aspects preceding and during the heavy rains over southeast Texas for the period November 22-25,1940, in Precipitation in hydrologic region 6, except Colorado and Tennessee, storm of November 21-27, 1940, with precipitation in selected areas of Texas and Louisiana for December 1-16, 1940: U. S. Weather Bur., Daily and hourly precipitation, Supplement 3, 1941. 7 For explanation of meteorologic terms and descriptions see such texts as: Petterssen, Sv^rre, Introduction to meteorology, 236 pp., 1941. Hayes, B. C., Meteorology for pilots,-U. S. Dept. Commerce, Civil Aero nautics Bull. 25,167 pp., 1940. 64 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 coast with a center of approximately 1,029.0 mb. (30.38 inches) off tl 3 northern California coast. By 7:30 a. m. of November 22, the quasi-stationary front over soutl 3ast Texas had advanced northwestward as a warm front to north Texas due to a low-pressure EXPLANATION Boundory of major drainage basin Boundary af minor drainage basins Stream-gaging stations Lines of equal rainfall,in inches.Nov. 20-26,1940 Towns (0 20 Miles FIGTJEE 9. Isohyetal map of San Jacinto Biver Basin, Tex., showing total rainfall, in inct es, November 20-26,1940, and locations of stream-gaging stations. trough forming over Oklahoma. This caused light, instability showers over south and central Texas. The active cold front through the Dakotas extending westward had advanced rapidly to southern Kansas, northern New Mexico, and central Arizona, with a deepening trough over Texas westward to Arizona. During the night of November 22 heavy thunderstorms and rain occurred ove~ southeast NOVEMBER FLOODS IN SAN JACINTO BASIN 65 Texas as warm, moist Gulf air overran cold air in central-southea''t Texa% the immediate area where the cold front became quasi-stationary and later started northward as a warm front. By 7:30 a. m. of November 23 the active cold front over southern Kansas had advan/ced rapidly southward to the Alpine-Fort Worth area and was underrunning the warm air southward over west Texas, causing a warm frontogene^is to develop over south-central Texas eastward to central Mississippi. That part of the cold front in north Texas had not moved nearly so far as the part farthe" west, but it had returned to the Palestine area by 7:30 p. m. November 23. The cold air underruning the warm air in that vicinity caused more heavy rains. In the mean time the cold front over central Texas had continued southeastward to the, Texarkana-Palestine-Austin-;Del Rio line with a watrm-wave development still indicated over the region Shreveport to Austin. During the night of November 23 the cold air continued to move southward in the Palestine area and caused more rains as the warm air was displaced. On November 24 and that night the warm air just south of Palestine again started moving northward, the rest of the cold front continuing southward past Brownsville. As this warm front near Palestine moved north, more rnn fell due to overunning of the cold air. The whole' low-pressure system then started moving north, the cold front to the, west becoming active and moving eastward. The cold air from the west lifting the warm air caused additional showers in southeast Texas. By November 25 a secondary low-pressure area had developed just off the Texas coast near Galveston, and, began moving north-northeastv^ard to near Texarkana. As the warm, moist air was moved eastward, cool air flowed over south-central and southeast Texas, causing the rain at Palestine to end at 3 p. m. on November 25. The upper air conditions over Texas and the Southwest during th's rain period were especially important. During the periods of heavy rainfall the winds aloft in the vicinity of El Paso eastward to the Gulf were southerly, 30 t** 50 miles an hour, at intermediate and high levels, and only began to turn southwesterly over El Paso on November 24 at 4 a. m., after which a general clearing began over Texas from the southwest. The moisture content as shown from upper-air sound ings at Brownsville, Oklahoma City, and El Paso increased rapidly after November 21, preceding the rain period. The storm of November 1940, which caused the floods in the San Tacinto River Basin as well as in many other streams, covered the eastern two-thirds of Texas and all of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Soon after the storm the Weather Bureau made an ex tensive search for information concerning rainfall in areas remote from official gages. The data collected, together with the records obtained at the official gages, have been published in a special report.8 The records of rainfall included in that report for the San Jacinto River Basin and adjacent areas are given in table 3. 8 Precipitation in hydrologic region 6, except Colorado and Tennessee, storm of November 21-27, 1940, with precipitation in selected areas of Texas and Louisiana for December 1-16, 1940: tT. S. Weather Bur,, Daily and hourly precipitation, supplement 3, 1941. ' TABLE 3. Rainfall, in inches, in San Jacinto River Basin and adjacent areas, Nov. 20-26', 1940 1 [Measured in morning except as noted. T =less than 0.01 inch. * Included in next measurement] November 1940 Total Longi Nov. 20 Station Latitude tude to Data furnished by 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Nov. 26 Neches River Basin: 0 / Hyatt a...... 30 33 94 26 0.03 0.10 0.10 2.40 5.40 3.39 0.02 11.44 U. S. Weather Bureau. 30 23 94 19 .12 .11 .06 2.17 2.82 2.02 7.30 Do. Trinity River Basin: 30 46 95 56 .02 T .65 2.43 2.55 .14 5.79 Do. 30 35 95 08 (*) (>.'03 (*) (*) ' (*) (*) 18 to 20 Polk County Agent. 31 03 95 07 1.48'1.62 3.10 3.04 .50 8.29 U. S. Weather Bureau. 30 44 95 35 T .11 7.05 3.15 .41 12.20 Do. Liberty'. _- - 30 04 94 49 .07 .45 3.86 2.55 6.93 Do. 30 43 94 57 .01 .15 .47 .37 10.20 3.70 .53 15.43 Do. 31 07 95 27 .25 2.47 1.72 4.39 .95 9.78 Do. ]VJ!adisonville ^ 30 57 95 54 .12 (*) 3.25 1.32 4.69 Do. 31 05 95 42 C) (*) (*) (*) C) 6.00 Mr. Pitts, 4 miles northeast of Midway. 30 55 94 50 .02 .05 .39 . .28 8.40 3.36 .45 12.95 U. S. Weather Bureau. 30 51 95 24 T .13 1.80 4.70 2.77 .48 9.88 Do. 30 27 94 46 C) <"> (*) 13+ Farmer, 1 mile south of Rye. 30 35 94 52 (*) (*) (*) 16. 75 Jim Reading, 10 miles southeast of Livings- 8 8 ton. 30 30 95 00 .15 .22 7.92 10.05 1.34 19.68 U. 8. Weather Bureau. San Jaeinto River Basin: 30 21 95 05 (>)T (*) (*) (*) (*) 12 to 14 Liberty County Agent. 30 18 95 28 .89 7.06 4.53 .40 12.88 U. S. Weather Bureau. 30 39 95 26 .05 T 1.40 7.75 2.80 .42 12.42 U. S. Forest Service. 30 23 95 42 .05 .70 6.22 '9.53 .96 17.46 U. S. Weather Bureau. 30 14 95 09 .34 8.80 5.30 .20 14.64 Do. Buffalo Bayou Basin: 29 46 95 39 .15 .15 .49 3.38 .40 4.57 City of Houston. A liof /Yuaai^ 3 29 43 95 36 « .07 .13 4.08 .80 5.08 Do. 29 52 95 41 .36 1.68 4.76 .40 7.20 Do. 29 53 95 47 .44 1.99 4.79 .40 7.62 Do. 29 47 95 24 .09 1.11 3.35 1.45 6.00 U. S. Weather Bureau. Katy 3 29 47 95 49 .12 .32 1.30 4.10 .28 6.12 City of Houston. 29 54 95 36 .20 .70 5.00 .48 6.38 Do. Brazos River Basin: 30 27 95 59 .03 .03 .86 6.97 2.25 .25 10.39 U. S. Weather Bureau. 30 10 96 24 .15 .11 .56 3.50 4.23 .10 8.65 Do. 30 37 96 23 T .03 2.01 2.03 1.80 .08 5.95 Do. 30 06 96 05 .35 16.00 4.46 .25 21.06 Do. 30 23 96 06 .23 .27 9.60 2.68 .15 12.93 Do. Navasota (airway) 3.-... ------30 24 96 04 .04 .07 .36 5.52 6.87 .55- 13.41 Do. NOVEMBER FLOODS IN SAN JACTNTO BASIN 67 S i s * Is Hg gs III ft u &fi«cts odd "*" P d> " " " «CQ Q g^ - c8 " EH^) ScOlM OOoS i-i ' ' IM'if'co' 3Qd g-gft S S a 'O'S 3 £f? rtflS^ ^Hc] 5tS OQDQ^-S^^O OS NOVEMBER 22 23 24 25 00 - ^ '' SHEPJ-IERD - '"^^_ / / I ~~~-MON- ^^ GOMERY .-. - .... ./--' ESTIN/ ATED PERI DOS OWINC5 TO OVERI "LOW OF GAGE - J1 1 ' 1 ^ // I /'// / jt ' i- ---' 6p.m. 12p.m. 6am. 12m. 6pm. 12p.m. 6am. 12m. 6p.m. I2p.m 6am. 12m. 6p.m. FIGURE 10. Graphs of cumulative rainfall, in inches, at Montgomery and Shepherd, November 22-25, 1940. NOVEMB1B FLOODS IN SAN JACINTO BASIN 69 The heaviest rainfall recorded within the San Jacinto River Basin occurred at the recording rain gage at Montgomery, where a total of 17.46 inches fell November 21-25. Fourteen inches of this amount fell during the 24-hour period from 2 p. m. November 23 to 2 p. m. November 24. The same gage registered 8 inches in the 8.5-hour period from 9 p. m. November 23 to 5:30 a. m. November 24. The recording gage at Shepherd, about 5 miles east of the San Jacinto River Basin, registered a total of 19.68 inches during November 21-25. Sixteen inches of this amount fell in the 24-hour period from 2 p. m. November 23 to 2 p. m. November 24. Graphs of cumulative rainfall obtained from the above recording gages are shown in figure 10. Records from a nonrecording rain gage at Hempstead, 7 miles west of the San Jacinto River Basin, show a total of 21.06 inches during November 23-26. Of this amount 16 inches was reported for the morning reading on November 24. Distribution of the ram with respect to time and arer, within the San Jacinto River Basin is shown by the isohyetal lines in figure 9. For discussion- of rainfall-runoff relations, see page 82. STAGES AND DISCHARGES AT STREAM-GAGING STATIONS Stage and discharge records obtained at the five stream-gaging stations in the San Jacinto River Basin during November and Decem ber 1940 are given on the following pages. The records for Decem'ber are included because a flood of considerable magnitude occurred dur ing the middle of that month. The locations of the statiors are shown in figure 9. Graphs of discharge, plotted from station records, are shown in figures 11 and 12. For an explanation of the station records see the section of this report on stages and discharges at stream- gaging stations in the description of the flood of June-Jul;r 1940. A view of the San Jacinto River flood is shown in plate 7, B. -WEST FORK, SAN JACINTO RIVER h EAR CONROE, TEXAS EAST FORK, SAN JACINTO RIVER NEAR CLEVELAND, TEXAS SPRING,CREEK NEAR SPRING,TEXAS 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 I 2 .3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 13 14 15 14 I/ NOVEMBER DECEMBER FIGURE 11. Graphs of discharge at various stream-gaging stations in the San Jacinto Eiver Basin, November 24 to December'20,1940. 260 240 SAN JACINTO RIVER NEAR HUFFMAN, TEXAS WEST FORK, SAN JACINTO RIVER NEAR HUMBLE, TEXAS \ 7 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 23456 7 8 9 10 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 NOVEMBER DECEMBER FIGURE 12. Graphs of discharge at various stream-gaging stations in the San Jacinto River Basin, November 24 to December 22, 1940. 72 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 SAN JACINTO RIVER BASEST WEST FORK SAN JACINTO RIVEE NEAR CONROE, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 30°15', long. 95°28', at bridge on U, S. Highway 75, 285, feet feet upstream from bridge of International-Great Northern R. R,, 3% miles downstream from Lake Creek, and 4% miles south of Conroe, Montgomery County. Datum of gage is 100.1 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929, Galveston-Houston supplementary adjustment of 1936. DEAINAGE AREA. 832 square miles. GAGE-HEIGHT BECORD. Water-stage recorder graph. DISCHARGE BECOBD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-mete" measure ments up to 43,000 second-feet and extended above by velocity-area studies. Gage heights used to half tenths between 2.8 and 5.5' feet; hundredths below and tenths above these limits. MAXIMA. 1940: Discharge, 110,000 second-feet 5 a. m. Nov. 25 (ga«*e height, 25.85 feet). 1924-27, 1939: Discharge, 88,100 second-feet Apr. 22, 1926 (gage height, 24.2 feet, present site and datum). 1913-23, 1928-38: Discharge, 101,000 second-feet December 1913 (gage height, 25.2 feet, present site and datum, from information furnished by International-Great Northern R. R. Co. engineers for site at railroad bridge) from 1940 rating curve. Stage, 24.2 feet, May 1922, and 21.7 feet May 30, 1929, from information by International-Great Northern R. R. Co. REMARKS. Flood runoff not affected by artificial storage; probably considerably affected by natural storage in wide flood plain. Mean discharge in second-feet, 1940 Novem Decem Novem Decem Novem Decem Day ber ber Day ber ber Day ber ber 1 - 73 799 11 .. .. 186 2,060 21 42 961 2 .... 57 560 12 320 6,110 22 742 3 . 74 451 13 . 222 19,900 23 - 551 4 ...... 53 342 14 143 20,200 24 36,700 451 5 . 72 271 15 155 11,300 25 92,900 412 6. 108 262 16 - _ ... 135 9,300 26. 40,600 920 7 . 89 770 17 91 6,310 27 - 18,600 1,180 8-..- 88 1,340 18 69 5,360 28 8, 4'*) 1,670 9. .... - 106 1,240 19 55 3,440 29 S.S^O 2,360 10 ..... 136 1,500 20 46 1,680 30 1,660 3,220 31 2,340 Monthly mean discharge, in secon d-feet ...... 6,834 3,484 Runoff. In acre-feet...... 406,600 214,200 NOVEMBEE FLOODS IN. SAN JACINTO BASIN 73 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Nw, 23 Nov. 28 Dec. 8 1.76 44 la. m __ 15.98 12,400 12m _ .:.__ 6.09 451 3 1.77 44 3 .... . 15. 85 11,400 4.90 400 5 1.77 44 5 .... 15.75 10,700 7 J 1.79 46 1...... 15.63 10,100 Dec. 4 9_ 1.82 49 9.., ... . 15.49 9,300 12m _ .... 4.72 342 11 1.87 54 11 15.35 8,600 4.56 310 Ip. m- 1.95 62 1 p. m ..... 15.16 7,820 2.06 72 3. ... 14.98 7,300 5 - . 2.25 91 5...... 14.81 6,600 12m _ .... 4.42 271 7 - 2.96 173 7.- __ ..- 14.60 6,000 4.32 253 9 - - 4.50 ' 477 9 . 14.38 5,500 11 7.30 1,340 11 j 14.15 5,140 Dec.e 12 . 8.85 1,870 12 14.01 4,880 6 a. m ..... 4.33 262 6 p. m . 4.33 262 Wo». «4 Nov. #0 12 4.31 253 1 a. m .-. 10.17 2,500 la. m __.._ 13.90 4,780 3 ...... 12.52 3,720 3- .... 13.66 4,480 Dec. 7 5 ----- 14.02 4,880 5 ...... 13.41 4,220 4.31 253 7 , 15.19 8,000 T...... 13.16 4,000 3 438 271 9 16.04 12,800 9 ..... - 3,820 5 4.54 300 11 16.77 17,800 11 12.60 3,660 7 .... 4.85 376 18.22 29,200 3,440 9 .... 5.37 530 3 . 20.00 44,500 3 ... - 12.01 3,280 11- ___ .-. 6.00 712 5 21.51 58,000 5.--. _ ... 11.73 3,110 6.64 890 7 --- 22.93 72,400 11.31 2,900 3 . 7.13 1,050 9 ----- 24.23 88,100 9 11.00 2,700 5 7.44 1,140 11 25.03 98,500 11 ...... 10.71 2,550 7 7.60 1,210 12 25.33 103,000 12 2,450 9 7.68 1,240 11 7.79 1,270 Nm. %5 Nov. SO 12 7.«4 1,270 1 a. m _ . 25.55 107,000 1 a. m.. --- 10.45 2,400 3 25.81 110,000 3 ...... 10.12 2,220 5 . 25.85 110, 000 5 ...... 9 81 2,040 7.97 1,340 7 . 25.72 108,000 7 ..... 9.52 1,910 6.. __ -.-. 8.09 1,370 9 25.45 104,000 9 ... 9.22 1,790 10 8.06 1,370 11 25.08 99,900 11 8.91 1,670 7.96 1,340 24.66 94,600 8.61 1,560 6 .... - 7.87 1,300 24.18 88,100 3 ...... 8.30 1,430 10 ,- 7.85 1,300 5 23.71 81,900 5 ...... 8.05 1,370 12 7.83 1,270 7 23.25 75,900 7 . 7.81 1,270 9 - 22.71 70,200 9 ...... 7.54 1,180 Dec. 9 ll- r 22.18 65,000 11 7.32 1,110 7.82 1,270 12 .- . 21.89 62,000 12 . 7.18 1,080 6 - 7.80 - 1,270 10 7.74 1,240 M>». %6 Dec.l 2 p. m ..... 7. 67 1,240 21.67 60,000 7.08 1,050 6 ...... 7.64 1,210 3- . 21.21 55,300 3 ...... ft Qf| 984 10 7.69 1,240 5 - . 20.72 50,800 5 - 920 12 _ . __ . 7.76 1,240 7 20.31 47,200 1 6.54 860 9 19.87 43,600 9 ...... 6.40 830 11... 19.52 40,200 11. .. 6.28 800 Dee. 10 <* Ow t oUv 1 p. m __ 19.22 37,700 - 1 p. m ..... 6.17 755 6- ___ - ... 8.11 1,370 3 18.88 35,200 3..... _ - 6.07 726 10 0 00 i 4fin 5 18.59 32,600 5...... 5.96 698 8.64 1,560 T...... 18.34 30,000 7 ...... 5.87 670 2 p. m __ . 9 18.10 28,400 9 ...... 5.81 656 10- _ 1.-670 11 17.88 26,700 11 5.75 642 1,670 12 17.83 25,900 12 5 7O 628 Nm. %7 DeC.S Dec. 11 la. m __ 17.77 25,900 la. m_ _ . 5.70 628 la. m __ . 8.98 1,670 3 ...... 17.56 24,300 3 . . 5.64 614 3 ... 8.97 1,670, 5 ... 17.37 22,700 5 .. S en 600 5- __ 8.92 1,'67Q 7 ... 17.17 21,200 7 ... 5.54 586 7... __ 8.85 1,630 9 . 17.04 19,700 9 5.50 K79 8.75 1,600 11 16.87 18,600 11 558 11 8:64 1,560 Ip. m ..... 16.72 17,400 Ip. m ..... 5.42 544 1 p. m _ .. 8.64 1,560 3------16.58 16,700 3...... t an 544 3 . ... 9.08 1,710 5 ... - 16.46 15,600 5 .. 530 5 ___ ... % 9.83 2,080 7 16.32 14,500 7 ...... 5.33 530 7, ...... 10.80 2,600 9 ----- 16.21 13,800 9 5.30 516 9 .... 11.85 3,220 11 16.10 13,100 11 5.26 503 11. 12.75 3,770 12- 16.04 12,800 13 .. 5.25 503 12 __ ...... 13.13 4,000 74 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Con. Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Dec. 12 Dec. 15 Dec. 19 1 a. m _ 13.38 4,220 3 a. m.. ... 16.03 12,800 Continued 3- ..... 13.72 4,580 9...... 15.84 11,400 10.90 2,700 5 13.92 4,780 15.73 10,700 12 10.45 2,450 7 ...... 14.04 4,880 9 _____ .. 15.68 10,400 9 _ 14.12 5,000 12 .... 15.67 10,100 Dec. %0 11 . _ 14.18 5,140 10.00 2,220 14.27 5,300 Dec. 16 9-...... 9.05 i 7on 14.60 6,000 3 a. m ..... 15.68 10,400 8.23 1,460 5 ... 14.86 6,780 9...... 15.58 9,800 9 _____ . 7.53 1,240 7 - ..... 16.20 8,000 15.40 8,800 12 _ ...... 7 99 1,140 9 ...... 15.42 8,800 9 __ ...... 15.23 8,200 11 15.58 9,800 12 ..... 15.14 . 7,820 Dec. n 12 15.66 10,100 3 a. m ..... 6.98 1,080 Dec. 17 9...... 6.65 984 Dee. IS 3 a. m ..... 15.02 7,300 3 p. m ..... 6.46 920 15.84 11,400 9...... 14.76 6,450 9 ...... 6.35 860 6 ..... 16.26 14,200 14.55 5,880 12 .... 6.29 Qfift 10 _ ... 16.77 17,800 9...... 14.47 5,620 17.38 22,700 12 ..... 14.48 5,750 Dec. n 6 ...... 17.83 25,900 3 a. m ..... 6.21 830 10 18.00 27,500 Dec. 18 9 6.01 770 12. . 17.98 27,500 3 a. m ..... 14.50 5,750 3 p. m. .... 5.80 712 9 .... 14.47 5,620 9...... 5.60 656 Dec. U 14.30 5,300 12...... 5.52 628 17.80 25,900 9...... 13.90 4,780 6 _ . 17.57 24,300 12 ... 13.63 4,480 Dec. K 10 - 17.20 21,200 6 a. m ..... 5.38 586 2 p. m - - 16.88 19,000 Dec. 19 6 p. m - . 5.15 516 6 ____ ... 16.55 16,300 3 a. m. ... 13.32 4,140 12 5.07 503 10 16.30 14,500 9...... 12.58 3,720 12 - 16.18 13,800 3 p. m ..... 11.78 3,220 WEST FORE SAN JACINTO RIVER NEAR HUMBLE, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 30°01'35", long. 95°15'30", at bridge on U. S. Highway 59, 1,160 feet upstream from bridge of Texas and New Orleans R. R., half a mile downstream from Spring Creek, and 2% miles north of Humble, Harris County. Datum of gage is 30.53 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. DRAINAGE AREA. 1,811 square miles. GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Water-stage recorder graph. DISCHARGE RECORD. Discharge Nov. 23 to Dec. 6, 1940, computed on basis of loop rating curve caused by rapidly changing stage, wide overflow, and backwater from East Fork San Jacinto River, which became effective about 7 p. m. Nov. 25. The rising-stage part of the loop curve was defined by current-meter measurements up to 153,000 second-feet, and the falling-stage part was defined by current-meter measurements below 127,000 second-feet. For rest of period of record, rating curve is well defined by current-meter measurements. Gage heights used to half tenths between 5.0 and 7.0 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these limits. MAXIMA. 1940: Discharge, 187,000 second-feet, 11 p. m. Nov. 25 to 1 a. m. Nov. 26; gage height, 32.68 feet, by recorder attached to web of bridge pier, and 33.00 feet by chain gage attached to upstream handrail of brrdge, away from influence of pier, 8 a. m. Nov. 26 (both gage heights affected by back water from East Fork San Jacinto River). 1928-39: Discharge, 187,000 second-feet May 31, 1929 (gage height, 32.7 feet, probably affected by backwater from East Fork San Jacintc River). 1908-27: Stage, 30.5 feet in 1908, according to information furnished by Texas and New Orleans R. R. Co. REMARKS. Flood runoff not affected by artificial stc , probably considerably affected by natural storage in wide flood plain. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1046 PLATE 7 A, NAVIDAD RIVER NEAR GANADO AT PEAK OF FLOOD OF JULY 2, 1940. View of submerged highway and railway from right hank. B, SAN JACINTO RIVER FLOOD OF NOVEMBER 27, 1940, AT HIGHWAY CROSSING NEAR CROSB\. View from left hank. Water lias receded about 1 foot. NOVEMBER FLOODS IN SAN JACINTO BASIN 75 Mean discharge in second-feet, 1940 Novem Decem Novem Decem Novem Decem Day ber ber Day ber ber Day ber ber 1 ___ 449 3,120 12...... 386 12,800 22...... 58 2,620 2..... _ .. 345 2,170 13 491 31,300 23 92 2,100 3 275 1,7SO 330 48,200 24 __ ... 8,040 1,610 4 ... - 195 1,430 15 . 225 37,400 25 103,000 1,380 5- ...... 156 1,210 16 195 23,400 26- 137,000 1,790 6 ...... 235 1,010 17 156 17,200 27 63,400 2,300 7 _ - 345 1,070 18 ...... 114 13,200 28 27,300 2,560 8 . 320 2,030 19.-.-. . 91 9,320 29 ...... 12,000 2,980 9...... 315 2,250 20.. __ .... 74 5,730 30 5,570 3,700 10... _ .... 398 2,220 21 ___ ..... 64 3,520 31. _ 3,840 11.... __ .. 295 2,360 Monthly me an discharge, in secon d-feet.... 12,060 7,986 Runoff, in aere-feet t 717,800 491,000 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Nov. S3 Nov. S6 Nov. SO I a. m ..... 2.96 50 Continued 1 a. m ..... 10.65 7,400 3 ...... 2.96 50 32.18 121, 000 3...... 10.40 5...... 2.96 50 5 __ . .... 31.85 117,000 5, ___ .. 10.13 6,600 7 - 2.96 50 7 .... 31.50 113,000 7 ...... 9.92 6,200 9 ... 2.96 50 9 ...... 30.97 106,000 9 . 9.68 5,900 11...... 2.96 50 11 ___ . .. 30.52 99,600 11 9.43 5,600 2.96 50 12... 30.32 97,000 9.23 5,300 3 . 2.99 54 3 ...... 9.04 5,000 5. ... 3.02 58 Nov. 37 5...... 8.86 4,800 7 ...... 3.07 67 30.04 93,400 7 . 8.68 4 600 9 ...... 3.38 136 3 29.54 87,700 9 8.52 4,300 11 . 4.02 436 5 ...... 29.00 81.200 11 8.36 4,100 12 4.34 631 7 . 28.40 75,000 12 8.28 4,100 9 ... 27.77 68,800 Nov.84 11 _____ . 27.17 63,200 Dee.l I a. m. .... 4.60 1,000 1 p. m ..... 26.51 58,000 4 a. m ... 7.98 3,640 3 ...... 4.98 1,300 3 ...... 25.86 53,400 12m-.. .-- 7.45 3,060 5 ...... 5.23 1,600 5- __ ..... 25.19 49,400 7.05 2,660 7 5.39 1,800 7 ..... ' 24. 57 46,400 12 6.88 2,400 9. __ ..... **» 2,300 9 ...... 23.94 43,700 11 _ 7^7 4,600 11 ____ .. 23.24 40,600 9.55 7,900 12 22.89 39,300 4 a. m 6.72 2,380 3. _ ...... 10.95 10,800 6.50 2 1 fin 5 _ .... 11.81 13,000 Nov. 88 6.30 7 _ ... 12.56 14,800 22.56 38,000 12. 6.22 1,900 9...... 13.43 17,000 3 ... 21.88 35,500 11... _ .... 14.67 20,400 5 ...... 21.22 33,300 12... ___ .. 15.42 22,800 7 ... 20.55 31,100 6.18 i onn 9 ...... 19.97 29,200 12m.. fi Q7 1 740 Nov. US 11. 19.43 27,800 5.83 1,620 1 a. m ..... 16.13 25,000 1 p. m _ . 18.87 26,100 12 5.76 1,570 3 .... 17.46 29,400 3... _ .... 18.27 24,400 5 ...... 19.60 38,300 5 17.69 23,000 Dee. 4 7 22.21 53,000 7 ... 17.10 21,200 5.70 1,520 9. _ . __ . 24.02 67,500 9 ..... 16.48 19,800 12m.. 5.58 1,420 11. 25.S9 89,600 11. ___ .... 15.91 18,300 5.46 1,350 1 p. m _ . 27.15 109,000 12. _ ...... 15.65 17,800 12- ...... 5.40 1,310 3...... 28.25 130,000 5 ..... 29.32 153,000 Nov. W Dee. 6 7 .... 30,22 173,000 11 dn 17,200 5.35 1 9Qft 9 ...... 30,87 184,000 3 14.89 16,000 12 m _ .. 5.25 1,200 11 . . 31.60 187,000 5 ...... 14.40 14,900 5.13 1 140 12. _ . _ .. 31.85 187,000 7. ___ .... 13,800 19 5.08 1,100 9 ..... 13.52 13,000 Nov. S6 11 13.08 12,100 la. m _ . 32.05 187,000 1 p. m ..... 12.68 11,200 6 a. m ..... 5.00 1,050 3 ...... 32.35 183,000 3 .... 12.29 10,400 4.86 970 5 ...... 32.58 172,000 5 ...... 11.94 9,800 12. .... 4.82 965 7.. __ .... 32.68 156,000 7 ...... 9,200 9 __ . _ - 32.67 138,000 9 ..... 11.29 8,600 Dec. 7 11 32.57 129,000 11. _ ...... 10.92 A. 5H 965 1 p. m ..... 32.40 124,000 12...... 10.78 7.700 9i- ...... 4.87 1.000 76 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 Gage-height; in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Con. Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Dec. 7 Dec. IS Dec. 17 Continued Continued 3 a. m ..... 14.67 19,000 4.93 1,060 18.13 27,800 9...... 14.15 17,400 9. _ ...... 6.21 1,260 7..... _ .. 18.45 28,800 13.78 16,700 19 5.44 1,480 9...... 18.78 30,100 9..... _ .. 13.48 15,900 11 19.02 30,800 12. _ ...... 13.31 15,400 Dec. 8 1p.m..... 19.27 31,900 5.65 1,660 3...... 19.60 32,600 Dec. 18 9...-,.... 5.99 2,000 5.... ___ . 19.77 33,700 3 a. m ..... 13.13 14,900 6.18 2,200 7 __ . 20.05 34,500 9...... 12.'68 13,700 9 ...... 6.25 2,250 9...... 20.38 36,300 3 p. m ..... 12.20 12,600 12...... 6.27 2,250 11..... _ .. 20.72 37,600 9..... __ . 11.72 11,700 12...... 20.90 38,600 12...... 11.53 11,300 Dec. 9 6 a. m ..... 6.27 2,250 Dec. 14 Dec. 19 6 p. m ..... 6.25 2,250 la. m ..... 21.18 40,100 3 a. m ..... 11.32 10,800 12...... 6.26 2,250 3...... 21.55 42,200 9...... 10.86 9,800 5. ___ .... 21.90 44,000 3p.m. .... 10.40 8,800 T\pfl in 7... _ .... 22.23 45,900 9. _ ...... 9.88 7,880 6.25 2,250 9...... 22.54 48,000 12...... 9.61 7,520 6.18 2,200 11 22.78 60,100 12. __ ..... 6.17 2,160 1 p. m ..... 22.93 50,800 Dec, SO 3 ... _ 23.05 51,500 9.34 6,800 Dec. 11 5 _ .... 23.10 52,300 9...... 8.87 6,120 6a.m. .... 6.23 f -&OU 7...... 23.08 52,300 3 p. m ..... 8.40 5,320 2 p. m __ 6.36 2,350 9 _ .... 22.95 51,500 9 . . 7.99 4,680 6.48 2,500 11 ...... 22.77 60,100 7.79 10 p. m ..... ase 2,560 12... _ ... 22.65 48,700 4,400 12 __ . .... 6.66 2,680 Dec. 15 Dec. SI , Dec. IS 2a.m. _ . 22.33 46,600 3 a. m. _ . 7.62 4,120 6.78 2,860 6...... 21.64 42,200 9 7.28 3,580 3...... 7.40 3,580 10...... 20.82 38,100 3 p. m._ ... 7.00 3,340 5...... 8.90 5,800 2p.m..... 20.17 35,400 9. _ ...... 6.80 3,040 7...... 10.25 8,060 6...... 19.44 32,200 12...... 6.72 2,920 9...... 11.27 10,200 10...... 18.67 29,800 11 ...... 11.93 11,500 12...... 18.31 28,500 1 p. m ..... 12.58 13,000 6 a. m ..... 6.61 2,740 3 ...... 13.20 14,400 Dec. 16 6.40 Zt oUU 5 ___ .... 14.40 17,400 2 a. m ..... 17.93 27,500 12 6.28 2,400 7...... 15.47 au, oUU 6...... 9 ...... 16.20 22,300 10. _ ...... 16.64 23,700 11...... 16.77 23,900 2 p. m ..... 16.08 22,500 Dec. SS 12...... 17.01 24,500 6. _ ...... 15.58 21,100 6 a. m ..... 6.13 2,250 10.... __ . 15.16 20,000 6 p. m._.__ 5.84 1,950 12...... 14.96 19,500 12...... 1,850 1 a. m ..... 17.25 25,100 3...... 17.70 26,600 SAH JACDTTO RIVER HEAR HUFFMAN, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 29° 59' 40", long." 95° 08' 00", at bridge of the P««umont,. Sour Lake & Western Ry., 0.4 mile downstream from the confluence of the East Fork and West Fork San Jacinto Rivers, and 3.4 miles southwest of Huffman, Harris County. Datum of gage is 1.93 feet above mear sea level, datum of 1929. DRAINAGE AREA. 2,791 square miles. GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Graph drawn on basis of one or more gage readings daily during low stages and two or more gage readings daily during high stages, including observation at crest stage. Below a stage of 39 feet gaze heights were obtained from wire-weight gage; above 39 feet from a temporary staff gage, which was read at frequent intervals by employees of the Beaumont, Sour Lake & Western Ey. Co. from 10 a. m. Nov. 25 to 4 p. m. Nov. 27. DISCHARGE RECORD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measure ments. Gage heights used to half tenths between 10.5 and 12.0 feet; hun- dredths below and tenths above these limits. NOVEMBER FLOODS IN SAN JACINTO BASIN 77 MAXIMA. 1940: Discharge, 253,000 second-feet, 11 a. m. Nov. 26 (gage height, 51.2 feet). 1936-39: Discharge, 16,800 second-feet Mar. 1, 1939 (gag Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1940 Day November December Day November December Day November December 1... __ .. 569 6,080 11...... 632 3,200 21 ...... 203 5,200 2...... 471 3,650 12... ___ . 584 14,400 22 __ 186 3,700 3 . 411 2,540 13 621 55,300 23 _ . 210 3,200 4 354 2,010 14 676 83,000 24 10,900 2,260 5 380 1,820 15 . _ . 476 78,600 25. _ 178,000 1,870 6 _ 467 1,480 16- . 384 48,600 26 _ 240,000 2,940 7...... 519 1,380 17 325 32,000 27 __ 172,000 3,850 8...... 554 2,610 18 267 22,900 28. __ .. 77,200 4,090 9...... 564 3,390 19 ... 246 16,300 29 27,100 4,490 10...... 584 3,390 20. 232 9,010 30 12,300 5,030 31 5,300 Monthly mt an discharge, in secoru I-feet ...... _ . 21, 910 13,990 Kunoff, in acre-feet 1 1,504,000 860,000 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Nov. 84 Nov. K Nov. 88 la. m ... 11.0 900 1 a. m _ .. 48.9 212,000 1 a. m ..... 41.7 116, 000 3 __ . 12.5 1,800 3 .... . 49.7 3 .... 41.0 109.000 5 ..... 140 2,900 5 _____ . 50.3 237,000 5 ... 40.3 101,000 7...... 4,400 7 . 50.8 fMfi nflfi 7 . 39.6 93,000 9.. __ 17.1 5,900 9. . 51.1 251,000 fl...... 38.9 86,000 11 ...... 7,600 51.2 253 000 11 38.2 1 p. m.. _ 20.1 9,700 1 p. m... .. 51.1 251, 000 1 p. m _ .. 37.5 72,000 3 ____ _. 21.7 12,300 3 ...... 51.0 249,000 3 ..... 36.8 65,000 5 ..' 23.2 15,100 50.8 246,000 5 ...... 59,000 24.9 19,000 7 .. 50.5 240,000 7 . 35.4 53,000 9...... 26.5 23,100 9 ..... KA 0 235 000 9...... 34.8 49,000 11. .... 28.2 28,400 11 ,. 49.9 229,000 11 . 34.1 44,600 12 ..... 29.0 31,000 12- _____ . 49.6 224,000 12. __ 33.8 43,000 Nov. K Noe.27 NOV. m 1 a. m ..... 29,9 34,400 1 a. m ..... 49.4 221,000 l a. m _ 33.4 40,800 3-. _ . 31.6 41,000 3 ...... 48 n 3. _ ...... 32.8 37,700 5 _ . __ .. 33.4 50,000 5 ___ 48.3 203, WO 5 ... 32.2 34,800 7 .... 35.2 61,600 7 47.7 7 __ 31.5 31,500 9 ...... 37.0 75,500 fl...... 47.1 185,000 9 30.9 28,800 11. .. 39.0 93,500 11 Afi K 176 000 30.3 26,300 1 p. m ..... 40.9 112,000 1 p. m _ .. 45.8 167,000 l p. m _ 29.8 24,600 3 42.7 3 .... . 45.2 159,000 3.. _ .. 29.2 23,000 5. _ .. ... 44.4 150,000 44 *\ 6 . ... 28.7 21,600 7 45.7 166,000 7 ...... 43 o 141 nnn 7. __ 28.1 20,000 9 ...... 47.0 183,000 9 ..... 43 1 9 ____ ... 27.5 18,800 11...... 48,0 198,000 11 ...... 42.4 124,000 11 . _ 27.0 17,700 12 .-... 48.5 206.000 12 .. 42.0 120. 000, 12 ...... 26.7 17,100 763365 4£ 78 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Con. Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet feet Nov. SO Dec. 7 Dec. 16 1 a. m 26.4 16,600 6 a. m. . 11.90 1,380 2a.m.. . 35.0 59,600 25.9 15,700 11.90 1,380 6 34.2 54,200 5 *><* 4 15,000 12. 11.90 1,380 10 33.5 50,000 7 - 24.8 14,000 2 p. m ..... 32.8 46,000 g 24.3 13,200 Dec. 8 6. _ -.- 32.1 42,500 11 23.8 12,500 12.45 1,760 10 - 31.4 39,300 23.2 11,700 9 13.5 2,500 12 31.1 38,000 3-... _ 22.7 11,000 3 p. m __ . 14.1 2,940 5 22.2 10,400 9 14.5 3,240 Dec. 17 7- - 21.7 9,900 12 14.6 3,320 3 a. m .. 30.7 36,300 21.2 9,300 9 29.9 33,200 20.7 8,800 Dec. 9 3 p. m ... .. 20.1 30,400 10 20.4 8,500 14.7 3,390 9.---..---. 28.4 28,100 14.7 3,390 12 2f.O 26,800 12 . 14.7 3,390 Dec. 1 Dec. 18 1 a. m _ _. 20.2 8,200 Dec. 10 3 a. m 27.6 25,700 19.7 7,800 14.7 3,390 9 27.0 24,000 5- 19.2 7,200 6 p. m ..... 14.7 3,390 3 p. m . .. 26.2 22,000 7 18.7 6,800 12 14.6 3,320 9 25.4 20,000 18.3 6,400 12 25.1 19,200 17.9 6,000 Dec. 11 Ip. m 17.5 5,700 6a.m.. ... 14.5 3,240 Dec. 19 3 .. 17.2 5,400 6 p. m _ - 14.4 3,160 2 a. m ..... 2^.8 18,500 5 16.9 5,100 12 14.3 3,090 6 24.4 17,600 7 - 16.6 5,000 10 24.1 17,000 16.3 4,800 Dec. IS 2p.m. 23.8 16,300 11 16.1 4,600 14.3 3,090 6 . 23.2 15, 100 1O 16.0 4,500 3 ...... 14.3 3,090 10 22.4 13,500 5 14.2 3,020 12 22.0 12, 700 7 16.0 4,490 Dec. 2 9 18.1 6,600 Dec. SO 15.9 4,400 11 20.3 9,640 3 a. m ..... 2'. 3 11,400 3- .. 15.7 4,200 22.5 13. 500 9 20.1 9,490 5 .. 15.5 4,100 3 24.5 17,800 3 p.m.. ... 19.1 8,090 7 - . 15.3 3,900 5 26.2 22,000 9 - 18.3 7,060 g 15.2 3,800 27.7 26,000 12 17.9 6,600 11. . 15.0 3,700 9 28.9 29,700 14.9 3,600 11 30.0 33,500 Dec. SI 3-... _ ... 14.8 3,500 12--.. ... 30.4 35, 100 17.5 5 . ... 14.6 3,400 5,480 7 14.5 3,100 Dec. IS 4,850 9 .... 14.4 3,100 2 a. m 31.5 39,800 9- _ .-...- 15.7 4,410 11 __ . .... 14.3 3,000 6 33.0 47,000 4,170 12 . _ . 14.2 2,900 10 34.0 53,000 2 p. m ..... 34.9 58,900 35.6 63,800 10- _ . 36.3 69,400 15.2 4,010 6 a. m ..... 13.9 2, 720 12 36.6 71, 800 9. 14.8 3,690 lo. 4 4, OUU 3 p. m _ 14.6 3,540 12 13.2 2,220 Dec. U 1 A G O KAA 36.9 74,200 12 14.6 3,540 Dec. 4 6 37.4 78,600 13.0 2,080 10 ...... 37.8 82,200 Dec. 23 6 p. m ..... 12.8 1,940 2 p. m _ . 38.2 85,800 14.6 3,540 12 12.8 1,940 6-______38.4 87,600 3a.m. 10 38.6 89,400 14.0 3,090 12 38.6 89,400 2,720 12.8 1,940 Dec. IB 12 13.4 2,640 6 p. m ..... 12.45 1,700 2 a. m ..... 38.6 89,400 12 12.25 1,560 6 ...... QO Q Dec. 24 10 37.8 82,200 13.2 2,500 Dec. 6 76,800 9 - 12.9 2,290 12.10 1,480 36.5 71,000 12.7 2,150 12.00 1,420 10 35.8 65,400 9.. _ ----- 12.6 2,080 12____ ... 11.95 1,480 12 35.4 62,400 12 . 12.5 2,010 SPRING CREEK NEAR SPRING, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 30°06'35", long. 95°26'10", at bridge on XT. 8. Highway 75, 4,500 feet upstream from bridge of International-Great Nortl ^rn R. R., 2.4 miles northwest of Spring, Harris County, and 4 miles downstream from Willow Creek. Datum of gage is 78.16 feet above mean sea level, unadjusted. NOVEMBER FLOODS IN SAN JACINTO BASIN 79 DBAINAGE ABEA. 400 square miles. GAGBrHMfiijBffi BECOSD. Grapt drawn on basis of two or more'tfeacHngs of wire- weight gage daily, including observation of crest gage height. DISCHARGE BECORD. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measure ments. Gage heights used to half tenths between 3.0 and 5.5 feet; hundreths below and tenths above these limits. MAXIMA. 1940: Discharge, 42,700 second-feet 8 p. m. Nov. 25 (gage height, 28.60 feet). April to September 1939: Discharge observed, 838 second-feet June 3 (gage height, 8.75 feet). / 1880-1938: Discharge, 48,300 second-feet May 30, 1929 (gage height, 29.3 feet, from fioodmarks identified by a local resident), from extension of 1940 rating curve. REMARKS.- Flood runoff not affected by artificial storage; probably considerably affected by natural storage in wide flood plain. Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1940 Novem Decem Novem Decem Novem Decem Day ber ber Day ber ber Day ber ber 1 __- _ . 74 274 12 ...... 65 6,760 23 31 292 124 235 13 57 15,600 24 2,770 218 3- 71 202 14 _ 54 15,200 26 . ___ - 31,500 182 4...... 41 158 15- .... 37 5,590 26 28,400 204 5. .-. . 55 129 16. _ ...... 28 3,290 27 8,540 392 6 115 126 17- 24 3,900 28 2,220 526 208 166 18 21 1,900 29 854 694 110 276 19 20 791 30 402 522 9.. ----- 61 464 20 . 18 435 31 _____ . 257 67 330 21...... 18 400 11 70 456 22 18 435 Monthly m< ;an discharge, in secon(1-feet...... 2,536 1,949 Runoff, in £icre-feeb 150, 900 119,800 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Nov. SS Nov. 25 Not>.27 2 a. m ..... 1.72 16 2 a. m ..... 22.42 13,000 Continued 6.. _ . .... 1.75 17 6-... . 24.70 20,800 18.57 5,840 1.77 18 10 26.63 10 17.60 4,640 1.80 18 28.20 39,600 12... - 17.10 4,090 1.86 21 6-. _ _. . 28.55 10 3.35 98 10. . _ - 28.58 42,700 12.. _ ..... 4.50 192 12- ...... 41,900 Nov. «8 2 a. m 16.64 3,420 Nov. 24 Nov.se 6 ...... 15.70 2,730 5.15 262 '28i 34 If) . ' 14.82 2,230 3 .... . 6.42 420 6 _ __ .. 27.56 35,800 13.95 1,910 5... -.-. 7.78 643 10-. -- .... 26.67 30,500 6 - 13.04 1,620 7 9.20 893 25.75 25,700 12.10 1,420 9---. ------10.60 1,160 6 __ ...... 24.80 21,200 12 11.60 1,320 11.90 1,420 10 ...... 23.70 17,100 13.40 1,790 12...... 23.15 15,400 3 __ -- .... 14.90 2,380 Nov. 89 5 - . -- 16.50 3,510 Nov. 27 10.85 1,180 18.00 5,100 22.63 13,600 9 9.45 912 9 ...... 19.30 6,790 6 21.57 11,000 8.45 730 20.60 8,900 10 20.57 7.67 592 12 ...... 21.25 10.200 2c. m ..... 19.55 7.230 12 ...... 7.35 542 80 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Con Second- Second- Second- Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Nov. SO Dec. 11 Dec. 17 3 a. m _ .. 7.04 494 2 a. m ..... 4.72 213 4 a. m ..... 13.78 3,790 9 6.48 420 6... _ .... 4.33 177 12m - 17.34 4,310 6.07 366 10- 4.50 192 15.60 3,600 9 ______5.76 328 2 p. m. .... 5.38 292 12 15.88 3,010 12..... _ .. 5.63 304 6...... 7.80 643 10 10.90 1,220 Dec. 18 Dec. I 12 12.50 1,550 15.47 2,730 5.42 286 6 . 14.68 2 280 5.18 262 Dec. IS 10 13.87 1,940 12...... 5.10 242 13.20 1,730 2p.m..... 13.02 1,680 3 ...... 14.70 2,280 6 12.20 1,480 5...... 16.20 3,240 10 . 11.30 1,300 4.91 235 7 ...... 17.67 4,750 12 10.82 1,200 4.77 218 9 ..... - 19.18 6,650 11 20.05 7,840 Dec. 19 Dec. 3 1 p. m __ 20.40 8,520 3 a. m ..... 10.02 1,040 12m...... 4.58 202 3-...... 20.60 8,900 9 8.90 838 4.37 177 5 ...... 20.70 9,100 8.13 694 7...... 20.75 9,300 9 7.47 592 Q 20.83 9,300 12 * 7.20 542 4.14 158 11 20.90 9,500 3.95 140 12 20.95 9,720 Dec. SO 4 a. m. __ 6.86 494 -Dec. IS 12 m_-.-... 6.42 420 12m...... 3.81 129 21.35 10,600 8 p. m. .... 6.21 392 3.70 122 9- .... 22.90 14,500 12 . 6.15 392 3 p. m 23.86 17,800 9 ...... 24.27 19,300 Dec. SI 12 m_. 3.73 126 12 . 24.28 19,300 6 a. m_. .. 6.12 379 12 p. m _ . 3.90 136 6 p. m ..... 6.42 420 12 . .a 65 449 Dec. 7 3 a. m ..... 24.23 18,900 4.02 144 9.-. . 23.73 17,100 Dec. &% 6 p. m _ . 4.45 187 3 p. m ... .. 22.90 14,500 6 a. m ..... 6.66 464 12...... 4.67 208 9 ...... 21.30 10,400 6.32 406 12 ...... 20.55 8,900 12 6.05 366 Dec. 8 6 a. m. .... 4.92 235 Dec. US 5.60 Dec. IS 12m 5.42 292 4 a. m ..... 19.60 7,230 5.04 242 12 ...... 6.17 392 5,340 12p.m..... Dec. 9 8-p. m..._. 17.22 4,200 Dec. 84 12 16.88 3,890 12m. .. 4.77 91 Q 12m...... 6.86 494 4.59 202 8 p. m ..... 6.66 461 Dec. 16 12- __ . ... 6.43 420 6 a. m ..... 16.45 3,420 Dec. £5 16.12 3,160 12m 4.41 182 Dec. 10 . 12...... 16.40 3,420 12 p. m .... 4.23 167 6 a. m _ .. 6.12 379 6 p. m.. 5.30 280 / 12 . 4.80 224 ^ EAST FORK SAN JACINTO RIVER NEAR CLEVELAND, TEX. LOCATION. Lat. 30°20', long. 95°07', at bridge on State Highway 105, 83 feet downstream from bridge of Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Ry., 1J^ miles west of Cleveland, Liberty County, and 4 miles downstream fron Nebblets Creek. Datum of gage is 113.0 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. DRAINAGE AREA. 330 square miles. GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Water-gage recorder graph except during low-water period 3 a. m. Dec. 3 to 3 p. m. Dec. 10, when clock was stopped. DISCHARGE RECORD. Stage-discharge relation denned by current-met3r measure ments up to 14,000 second-feet and extended above by logarithrrfe plotting. Gage heights used to half tenths between 2.6 and 3.9 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these limits. Discharge 3 a. m. Dec. 3 to 3 p. m. Dec. 10 estimated on basis of indicated peaks and trough^ on recorder graph, and rainfall record. NOVEMBER FLOODS IN SAN JACINTO BASIN 81 MAXIMA. 1940: Discharge, 77,500 second-feet 11 p. m. Nov. 24 (gage height, 20.37 feet). April to September 1939: Discharge, 140 second-feet Apr. 29 (gage height, 1.94 feet). < 1900-38: Discharge, 69,500 second-feet May 5, 1935 (gage height, 19.9 feet, from floodmarks), from 1940 rating curve. REMABKS. Flood runoff not affected by artificial storage; probably considerably affected by natural storage in wide flood plain. Mean discharge in second-feet, 1940 Novem Decem Novem Decem Novem Decem Day ber ber Day ber ber Day ber ber 1_. __ .... 59 278 12 .... 139 3,130 23 157 194 2...... 63 228 10 87 14,100 24...... 26,100 173 3...... 33 14 ...... 63 10,300 25...... 43,200 162 4 ______24 16 ...... 37 3,990 26...... 13,700 328 5...... 27 16 ..... 27 2,620 27 6,100 598 6...... 52 265 17 ... 24 2,380 28...... 2,410 1,040 42 18 ...... 22 2,060 29...... 1,080 1,430 8...... _ 29 19 22 1,030 30..... _ .. 358 1,260 9...... 36 20 .. _ 20 368 31...... 452 10...... 33 1,060 21 ..... 20 278 11 _ .. __ 57 452 22 20 227 Monthly me an discharge, in secoru 1-feet .. _ . _ _ 3,101 1,613 Runoff, in a ore-feet 184,500 99,160 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1940 Second- Hour Second- Seeond- Feet feet Hour Feet .feet Hour Feet feet Nov. 23 Nov. 25 Nov. K la. m __ 1,12 20 Continued 2 a. m ..... 10.28 3,190 2 p. m __ 1.16 22 10 a. m. _ 18.40 46,700 4...... 10.10 2,990 4...... 1.25 29 17.95 41,500 6 9.92 2,800 6. _ ...... 1.35 39 17.60 36, 700 8 - 9.74 2,640 6... __ ... 1.80 108 4 ... 17.23 32,500 10 9.56 2,580 7 ______2.50 238 6. ___ . 16.90 29,600 12 m. 9.37 2,440 8 ___ . .... 3.20 378 8. .... 16.67 9.18 2,320 9 ___ .... 4.00 638 10 16.29 24,600 4 8.95 2,200 10... _ .... 4.85 704 12 ...... 16. 02 22,500 6. 8.75 2,100 11. , 5.55 897 8-j...... 8.56 1,990 12 __ ...... 6.20 1 * 060 10 _ ...... 8.35 1,890 Nov. 26 12..... __ . 8.15 1,800 Nov. 24 15. 77 21,300 19, 500 7.10 1, ooU 4 ...... 15.50 6...... 15.23 17,700 Nov. 29 4 ...... 7.80 1,620 1,660 6...... 8.75 2,100 8 ...... 14.95 16,600 2 a. m ..... 7.92. 10 ..... 14.67 15,100 4..... _ .. 7.68 1,580 8. _ ...... 9.96 2,890 1,460 19.65 3,510 12m...... 14.38 13,800 6..... _ .. 7.42 10 ____ ... 11.15 2 p. m _ .. 14.10 12,600 8...... 7.10 1,360 4,400 4...... 13.77 11,400 10...... a 76 1,260 12m...... 11.90 5,950 1,120 2 p. m ...... 12.80 8,200 6...... _ . 13.50 10,300 12m.... 6.40 3...... 14.00 8 .... 13.24 9,400 2 p. m ..... 6.00 1,000 12,200 10...... 12.97 , 8,800 4 ...... 5.59 897 4 ___ . .... 15.60 20,100 E Iff s.£i* tO 7QR 5...... 17.10 31,500 704 6...... 18.30 , 45, 300 8...... 4.75 10 ^ 4.33 598 7...... 19.30 59.900 Nop.tr 3.97 8.. __ .... 19.80 67,900 2 a. m ..... 12.52 7,450 9 20.15 74,300 4 ___ .... to QI 6,950 10..... _ .. 20.33 75,900 6... __ .. 12.12 6,450 Nov. 30 11...... 20.37 77,500 8... _ .... 11.92 5,950 3.67 468 12... _ . ... 20.36 77,500 10 ___ . _ 11.68 5,450 4...... 3.45 428 12m...... 11.52 5,000 6...... 3.29 398 Nov. 85 11.35 4,800 8...... 3.15 368 1 a. m ..... 20.30 75,900 4 ...... 11.16 4,400 10 ... 3.05 348 2 ...... 20.17 74,300 6.. __ . 10.98 4,050 12m...... 2.97 328 4 ____ ... 19.83 R7 Qftft U QO 3 7RA .2.86 308 6 ...... 19.40 61,500 10...... 10.63 3,510 8...... 2.78 298 8...... 18,87 53,700 12...... 10.47 3,400 12... ..- 2.72 278 82 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1940 Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at-indic&ted'timv, 1940 Feet Second- Second- Second- Hour feet Hour Feet feet Hour Feet feet Dec.l Dec. 18 Dec. 16 2 a. m __ 2.70 278 Contiimed 3 a. m . 17.00 2,890 4...... 2.75 288 10.15 3,090 9.... . 9.75 2,720 6...... 2.78 298 3 ...... 10.35 3,290 9.48 2,510 10...... 2.73 288 5...... 3,750 9 9.34 2,380 2 p. m __ 2.69 278 7 ...... 11.05 4,050 12 9.37 2,440 6-....-... 2.65 268 9 11.28 4,600 12 ...... 2.59 256 11 11.75 5,700 Dec. 17 12 12 23 6,700 9.40 2,440 9,...... 9.35 2,440 Dec. 2 3 p. m ..... 9.23 2,320 4 a. m ..... 2.55 248 Dec. IS 9. ____ . 9.23 2,320 8 ..... 2.50 238 13.18 9,400 12.. . 9.20 2,320 12m...... 2.45 228 6 ___ ..... 13.83 11,400 4 p. m _.... 2.42 223 10 14.37 13,800 Dec. 18 8 ...... 2.38 215 14.74 9.15 2,320 12 ...... 2.35 210 6 15.10 17,100 9 . 8.93 2,150 10 8.62 1,990 12...... 15.00 16,600 9 .... 8.15 1,880 Dec. 11 12 . 7.85 1,620 2 a. m ..... 3.98 558 6...... 3.27 428 Dec. 14 Dec. 18 10..... _ .. 2.87 348 2 a. m _ .. 14.78 15,600 2 a. m .. 7.63 1,540 2 p. m ..... 2.67 308 6 14.23 13,000 6 7.10 1,360 6. _ ...... 2.75 318 10 10,600 10 6.40 1,120 10...... 2 p. m _ .. 13.02 8,800 5.60 4.85 750 6...... 12.54 7,450 2 p. m ..... 897 12 ...... 6.00 1,060 19 nfi 6 4.77 704 10 6,450 10 12 ...... 11.87 5,950 12 . ... 3.81 498 Dec. 1% 1 a. m ..... 6.85 1,320 Dec. IB Dec. HO 3...... 8.20 1,850 11.57 5,200 3.50 438 5...... 8.93 2,200 9 11.05 4,050 9 3.20 378 7 __ . _ .. 9.40 2 AAf\ 10.62 3,510 3.02 338 9...... : 9.65 2,580 10.28 3,190 9 ..... 2.91 318 11 ...... 9.83 2,720 12 .... 10.14 2,990 12. 2.86 308 RAINFALL AND RUNOFF STUDIES Comparisons of rainfall with associated runoff furnish ureful infor mation concerning the relation between rainfall and tho resulting direct runoff under varying hydrologic conditions. The differences between rainfall and runoff show the volume of water retained in the drainage basins. This retention is an important factor in flood con trol and other problems. These comparisons also serve as tests of the accuracy and adequacy of the base data. Over a given area subjected to a given amount of rain, many fac tors affect the relation between the rainfall and its associated runoff, the most important being the moisture content of the soil a-t the time of the flood-producing rain and the rate of rainfall. Among other factors affecting the relation are the type of soil, slope of t^e ground, season of the'year, condition of the vegetal growth, and state of cultivation of the farming lands. Rainfall over the area subjected to the flood-producing rrin of June 29 and 30, 1940, averaged about 2.4 inches for the period June 10-21 and less than 0.5 inch for the period June 22-27. The normal average rainfall for this area for the m'onth of June is about 3.3 inches. No rain fell in the San Jacinto River Basin during the 9 days preceding RAINFALL AND RUNOFF STUDIES 83 the storm oi November 20-26. Rainfall over the basin averaged about 2.9 inches for the period October 25-31 and about 4.2 inches for the period November 1-11. The normal average rainfall for this basin for the month of October is about 3.7 inches and for November about 3.8 inches. For the purpose of. these studies of the Sitorni of June-July 1940 certain areas in the Colorado and Lavaca River Basins w°.re selected for the comparison of rainfall and runoff. The rainfall wa^ uniformly heavy in each of these areas in the Colorado River Basin and in the Lavaca River Basin above Hallettsville, but, as shown ir table 4, it varied widely in quantity for other parts of the Lavaca River Basin. For the storm in November similar studies were made at five stream- gaging stations in the San Jacinto River Basin where tH rain was heavy and uniform throughout. Each storm was considered to be a unit, as most of the rain in each storm fell during a short p3riod. For the storm of June-July the rain that fell during the period June 28- July 4 is considered to have contributed to the total runoff from that storm, and the rain that fell during November 20-26 is considered to have contributed to the runoff from the November storm. The volume of rainfall for each area was determined by planimeter from the isohyetal maps (pi. 6 and fig. 9), and its accuracy depends on the accuracy of the isohyets. The isohyetal maps for the areas studied are considered to be reasonably accurate. The determinations of direct runoff during the storm p3riods have been based on records of daily mean .discharge at stream-gaging stations. For those areas studied for the storm of June-July, the base flow attributed to ground water was either zero or sc small that consideration of it was neglected. For the areas in the Pan Jacinto River Basin studied for the storm of November, the base flow was estimated on the basis of the flow before and after the storm period and was subtracted from the total flow. DISCUSSION OF RESULTS The results of the rainfall and runoff studies for th°. storm of June-July are summarized in table 4. The first entry ir that table is for the area tributary to Colorado River between the stream-gaging stations at Smithville and La Grange. This area has a ratber uniform, low, rolling topography with hillsides generally heavily v^ooded and with valleys mostly cultivated. In general the soil is gravelly or sandy loam.9 The second entry in table 4 is for the basin above the station on Dry Creek at Buescher Lake near Smithville. Because of the rarity » Soil Survey of Lee County, Tex., 1906, and Soil survey of Bastrop County, Tex., 1908, U. S. Dept. Agr-, Bur. Soils. TABLE 4. Rainfall and direct runoff of storm of June 28 to July 4, 1940, for certain areas in the Colorado and Lavaca River Basins 00 Drain Mean depth in inches Area, in square miles, having rainfall between limits shown No. age area on Stream and place of measurement (square pi. 6 Rain Reten 2-4 4-6 6-8 8-10 miles) fall Runoff tion 10-12 12-14 14-16 16-18 18-20 20-22 22 12 Area between Smithville and La Grange. 1 550 19.3 11.5 7.8 4.2 23.8 78.2 259.7 171.5 12.6 13 17 Dry Creek at Buescher Lake, near Smith- vffle 1.48 19.5 11.3 8.2 1.48 20 101 18.2 13.7 4.5 19.6 23.8 35.9 21.7 21 887 13.4 5.0 8.4 11.7 -19.6 24.3 90.0 156.6 188.6 190.2 91.9 92.4 21.7 24 1,116 9.8 3.5 6.3 164.0 156.4 167.8 156.5 121.1 105.3 76.3 56.4 47.3 51.9 13.0 H RAINFALL AND RUNOFF STUDIES 85 / of discharge records from so small an area subjected to Ir^avy rains, the results will be discussed in more detail. The basin above this station is 1.48 square miles in area, about 2.5 miles long, and from one-half to three-quarters of a mile wide. It is an are^. of rolling hills and varies about 150 feet in altitude from the bottom of the reservoir to the highest point of divide. There is no cultivated land and not much ppen country. The area is well covered with cedar, post oak, yaupon, ,and other trees and brush, with small trees and brush predominating. The flood plain especially is covered with a heavy growth of brush. The soil is sandy gravel underlain by a heavy red sandy clay. The clay is exposed at places on lillsides and in washes.10 The nearest rain gage to the Dry Creek Basin is the standard non- recording Weather Bureau gage at Smithville, about 3.5 miles from the center of the basin. This gage is read once daily, late in th?, afternoon. The reading on June 28 showed 0.15 inch of rain; June 29, 4.35 inches; and June 30, 16.05 inches, all of the last falling between 7 p. m. June 29 and 10 a. m. June 30. Part of the 4.35 inches measured on the afternoon of June 29 fell on the night of June 28-29, but'no runoff of consequence occurred until after 2 p. m. June 29. Ver7 little rain fell after 9. a. m. June 30. Eighty percent of the total runoff occurred between 3 a. m. and noon on June 30, which indicates a heavy concen tration of rain between 3 and 9 a. m. on that day. Lines of equal rainfall drawn on the basis of all available rainfall data show that the Dry Creek Basin lies mostly between the 19-inch and the 20-inch isohyets. Assuming an average rainfall of 19.5 inches, the-total rainfall on the basin of 1.48 square miles was 1,540 acre-feet. The total runoff was 891 acre-feet, leaving a retention of 649 acre-feet, or 8.2 inches of rainfall. Other entries in table 4 are for studies of the areas above the stations in the Lavaca River Basin, The results obtained for the area above Hallettsville, showing considerably less retention thar adjoining areas, call for some discussion. The basin above Hallettsvilie is about 20 miles long and 5 miles wide. One record of rainfall w°s obtained near the headwaters and one at Hallettsvilie. No other records were found in the vicinity of the basin. The rating curve u^ed for the record at Hallettsvilie gage was defined by current-meter measure ments up to 25,000 second-feet, and a slope-area measurement of 93,100 second-feet. Some error, therefore, may enter into both the isohyetal map and the record of runoff. However, the characteris tics of this basin that are considered to affect rainfall-runoff relations are quite different from those in other basins included in this study. M Soil survey of Bastrop County, Tex., 1908, U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Soils. TABLE 5. Rain/all and direct runoff of storm of Nov. 20-2Q, 1940, in the San Jacinto River Basin 00 O5 Drain Mean depth in inches Area, in square miles, having rainfall between limits shown No. age area on Stream and place of measurement (square fig. 9 Rain Reten 6-8 8-10 miles) fall Runoff tion 10-12 12-14 14-16 16-18 18-20 1 832 13.9 9.1 4.8 10 57 107 238 233 187 2 1,811 13.1 7.5 5.6 40 250 374 440 372 325 10 3 2,791 13.6 8.8 4.8 40 256 559 677 588 563 108 4 400 13.9 7.0 6.9 42 80 66. 83 119 10 5 330 15.7 10.5 5.2 35 75 55 75 90 SEDIMENT 87 One important difference is that in more than 90 percent of the basin above Hallettsville the soil is identified as clay u with the rest a sandy loam. This relation between clay and sand or sandy loam is more nearly reversed for other areas studied. Also the area is treeless ex cept for fringes of timber along the streams and small timber and brush growing on the small areas of sandy soil, and much the greater part of the area is cultivated, whereas the greater part of the other areas is timbered and the smaller part is cultivated. The results of the rainfall and runoff studies in the S TABLE 6. Silt load and runoff at measurement stations on West Fork S«n Jacinto, Brazos, and Colorado Rivers during flood periods, 1940 [Base data on silt load was furnished by IT. S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Division of Irrigation] west Fork San Jacinto Brazos River Colorado River near at Richmond River at Humble June 28 to Columbus Nov. 23 to July 14 June 28 to Dec. 6 July 14 MmhTWm rlisr-hargn ______second-feet- 187,000 82,100 152,000 Runoff. ______728,100 1,233,000 818, 700 SUt load...... 409,600 12,010,000 3,959,000 Silt...... 269 7,880 2,600 Average weight of silt ______0.041 0.717 0.356 i Volume of silt obtained from total load, assuming that silt weighs 70 pounds per cubic fc«t: See Faris, O. A., The silt load of Texas streams: U. S. Dept. Agr. Tech. Bull. 382, pp. 49,55, September 1933. PREVIOUS FLOODS Data pertaining to previous floods in Texas have been presented in the follow ing publications of the Geological Survey: Water-Supply Paper 488. The floods in central Texas in September 1921, by C. E. Ellsworth. Contains precipitation and discharge records fo~ the floods of September 1921 and previous floods in the Brazos, Colorado, Guadalupe, and San Antouio River Basins. Water-Supply Paper 771. Floods in the United States, magnitude and fre quency, by C. S. Jarvis and others. Gives the gage height, peak discharge, daily mean discharge, and other pertinent iaformation relative to ell floods of record above a certain selected base flow for stream-gaging stations on Brazos River at Waco, Colorado River at Austin, Rio Grande near El Paso, and Pecos River near Comstock. Water-Supply Paper 796-G. Major Texas floods of 1935, by Tate Dalrymple and others. Contains precipitation and discharge records for the flood in May on Seco Creek in the Nueces River Basin, the floods of June in the Colorado, Nueces, and Rio Grande Basins, and the flood of December on BuffaJo Bayou at Houston. Contains also short discussions of previous floods in tl <5se basins. Water-Supply Paper 816. Major Texas floods of 1936, by Tate Dal-ymple and others. Presents detailed information on rainfall and flood discharges of the floods of June-July in the Guadalupe, San Antonio, and Neches River Basins and of the floods of September in the Trinity, Brazos, and Colorado River Basins; detailed data on previous floods in Texas; special data about precipitation and discharge during the floods of May 1929 in the Colorado and Guadalupe River Basins and during the floods of July 1932 in the Llano, Guadalupe, and Nueces River Basins; also, in tabular form, records of maximum floods on streams over the entire State. Water-Supply Paper 847. Maximum discharges at stream-measurement stations through December 31, 1937, by G. R. Williams and L. C. Crawford, PBEVIOUS FLOODS . 89 with a supplement including additions and changes through September 30, 1938, by W. S. Eisenlohr, Jr. Contains, in tabular form, records of nraximum dis charges at practically all stream-measurement stations that hare been operated in the State and also peak discharges computed at miscellaneous places in the State. Water-Supply Paper 850.. Summary of records of surface waters of Texas, 1898-1937, by C. E. Ellsworth. Contains, in tabular form, records of maximum discharges at practically all stream-measurement stations that have been operated in the State and also peak discharges computed at miscellaneous places in the State. Water-Supply Paper 914. Texas floods of 1938 and 1939,by S. D. Breeding and Tate Dalrymple. Contains detailed information on rainfall and discharges of floods of January 1938 in east Texas, June 1938 on Lake Creek in Donley County, July 1938 in the Colorado River Basin, and June 1939 in the upper Colorado River B*asin; data concerning silt carried by flood of July 1938 in Colo rado River Basin; studies of rainfall-runoff relations for the flood of July 1938 in the Colorado River Basin; also, in tabular form, records of maximum floods on streams in the Red, Sabine, and Colorado River Basins. INDEX Page Page Abstract__ 1-2 Hempstead, Brazos River near. ______21,32-33 Acknowledgments- ! - 4 Huffman, San Jacinto River near___ 71,76-78,86 Austin, Colorado River at_..... 23,41-43; pi. 2A Humble, West Fork San Jacinto River near 71, 74-76,86 Bay City, Colorado River near..__ 23,49-50 Brazos River, at East Columbia._____ 21,36^37 La Grange, Colorado River at___ _ 23,44-46,84 at Richmond... . -. - 21,36-36 Lavaca River, at Hallettsville- 2," 51-52,84; pis. 3,4 atWaco 20,27-28 near Edna. ....__.___...... 25,53-64,84 near Bryaa ------20,30-32 Little River at Cameron______22,38-39 near Hempstead _-__ .. 21,32-33 nearMarlin- - 20,29-30 Marlin, Brazos River near______... 20,29-30 near San Felipe...... ______... . 21,33-34 Meteorologic conditions in San Jacinto River Bryaa, Brazos River near...___ - 20,30-32 Basin.....______63-65 Cameron, Little River at.______22,38-39 Navasota River near Easterly. ______22,40-41 Cleveland, East Fork San Jacinto River Navidad River near Ganado._ 25,54-55,84; pi. 7A near__.._ . ... 70,80-82,86 New Braunfels, Guadalupe River at_____ 25,56 Coleto Creek near Victoria. _.___-_ 26,60-61 Ottine, San Marcos River at______26,58-59 Colorado River, at Austin_____ 23,41-43; pi. 2A at Columbus______~ 23,46-47; pi. 2B Previous floods, list of publications giving at La Grange 23,44-46,84 records of. ___._ 88-89 at Smitbville _...... 23,43-44,84 at Wbarton . .. 23,48-49 Rainfall, in San Jacinto River Brsin, records near Bay City . . 23,49-60 of . . 64-69 Columbus, Colorado River at___ 23,46-47; pi. 2B in south-central Texas, records of. ____ 8-15 Conroe, West Fork San Jacinto River in Texas, average annual, mar showing... pi. 1 near 70,72-74,86 Rainfall and runoff studies..______82-87 Crosby, San Jacinto River near ... pi. 7B Richmond, Brazos River at______21,35-36 Discharge, in San Jacinto River Basin during San Antonio River at Gob'ad.______26,61-62 November and December...... 69-82 San Felipe, Brazos River near______21,33-34 in south-central Texas during June-July, San Jacinto River, near Crosby______pi. 7B records of .______18-62 near Huffman..______.__ 71,76-78,86 Drainage basins in Texas, map showing. .. pi. 1 San Marcos River at Ottine ._____ 26,58-59 Dry Creek at Buescher Lake near Smith- Sediment load, measurement of______87-88 ville ...... 24,60-51,84 Smithville, Colorado River at. _____ 23,43-44,84 Dry Creek at Buescher Lake rear.. 24,60-51,84 East Columbia, Brazos River at______21,36-37 Somerville, Yegua Creek near. ______22,39-40 Easterly, Navasota River near... _._.. 22,40-41 Spring, Spring Creek near______70,78-80,86 East Fork San Jacinto River near Cleve Spring Creek near Spring______70,78-80,86 land-__.____...____ 70,80-82,86 Edna, Lavaca River near.______25,53-54,84 Topographic divisions of Texas, mrp showing, pi. 1 Flood stages and discharges, method of meas Victoria, Coleto Creek near______26,60-61 urement of __.__ 4-5; pi. 2 Guadalupe River at______26,57-58 Waco, Brazos River at..______20,27-28 G'anado, Navidad River near__ 25,54-55,84; pi. 7A West Fork San Jacinto River, near Conroe 70, Goliad, San Antonio River at..._____ 26,61-62 72-74,86 Guadalupe River, at New Braunfels_____ 26,56 near Humble...... __.. .. . 71,74-76,86 at Victoria.. ...______.. 26, 57-58 Wbarton-, Colorado River at______23,48-49 Halle'ttsville, Lavaca River at..' 25,51-52,84; pis. 3,4 Yegua Creek near Somerville ....____ 22,39-40 o 91